Jersey City Rising [Archive] - Page 4

macmini

August 14th, 2006, 02:49 PM

Jersey City: An Appetite for Development State's Second Largest City in Midst of Building Boom

By Anthony Birritteri, Editor-in-Chief

When the lease was up on their lower Manhattan office headquarters in October 2004, the principals at Abner, Herrman & Brock, Inc. (AHB) Asset Management didn't consider moving to Jersey City. According to Kevin E. Strauss, managing director, everyone had the old image of Jersey City on their minds - a run-down metropolis in decline. When a broker showed them what actually existed, Strauss and his partners were in awe. "We didn't understand the scope of what was here. This has really become Wall Street West," he enthuses. Almost two years later, AHB is expanding its client base in New Jersey as well as in New York. What's even better is that clients now don't mind visiting the firm's 5,000 square feet of Class A space at Harborside Financial Center 5 on the waterfront, as opposed to visiting their old Manhattan office.

http://www.njbmagazine.com/2006aug/images/jersey_city.jpg
A rendering of LeFrak Organization's Newport development, where the company now plans three new residential towers and a 49-room Westin Newport hotel.

"With improvements in technology, it's no longer vital to be located near the stock exchange or near the Wall Street community," says Strauss, who adds that for one-half to one-third the cost of office space in New York City, AHB also had the opportunity to customize its new space from scratch in Jersey City.

Strauss' comments reflect the views of many businesses that are leaving Manhattan to take advantage of what Jersey City has to offer: less expensive and newer commercial office space; a skilled workforce that is consistently being developed by the area schools such as St. Peter's College, New Jersey City University and Hudson County Community College; quick and convenient access to Manhattan via four PATH stations, the Holland Tunnel, four ferry routes provided by NY Waterway and one provided by New York Water Taxi; access through the region via the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit System; and a flourishing cultural community with art studios, restaurants and various ethnic groups. In fact, walking the streets of Jersey City on any given day, more than 50 languages can be heard at one point or another.

Not only businesses are flocking to the city - people are as well. The city's population of more than 240,000 increased by 5 percent between 1990 and 2000, a great feat considering the population decline of many urban cities throughout the country.

The attraction of Jersey City to groups of new immigrants, young professionals and empty nesters has caught the eye of residential developers who are in the midst of a building boom throughout the 14.9 square-mile region. There are currently 8,000 residential units under construction in the city, 15,000 more are in stages of approval and another 50,000 to 65,000 are predicted to be built within the next 25 years.

"We have an appetite for development," says Robert Cotter, planning director for the city. "We have reached critical mass, and all of a sudden it's here. Things are snowballing.

"We had a big city once upon a time. We shrank, but now we are re-growing ourselves," he says confidently.

"The secret is out," says Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. "The city was overlooked for a long time; now people are flocking here to live and invest. If you went down to the Hudson River waterfront 25 years ago, there was nothing but abandoned, rotting piers, warehouses and railroad tracks. Go down there now and it's an entirely different place."

According to Healy, redevelopment is running throughout the city: from its northern border with Hoboken to its southern border with Bayonne and east to the Hackensack River and Newark Bay.

One of the main developers providing the spark that led to Jersey City's renaissance as a commercial center for financial institutions is the LeFrak Organization, which, along with Melvin Simon & Associates, began transforming a stretch of abandoned waterfront property back in 1986 into the famed Newport Development, the $2.5-billion mixed-use community where more than 16 million square feet has been built, including: the eight-building, 5.5 million square-foot Newport Office Center; the 1.2 million square-foot Newport Center Mall (which has recently undergone $17 million in renovations); an additional 600,000 square feet of outdoor retail space; nine high-rise rental apartment buildings, comprised of 3,479 units; two condominium buildings with 659 units; the Newport Marina & Yacht Club that services more than 285 boats and yachts; the 187-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel; the Newport Town Square, a gathering place where a variety of free events are held; and a 1.5-mile stre! tch of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.

Looking back these past 20 years, Richard LeFrak, chairman and president of the LeFrak Organization recalls, "In the beginning, it was rough sledding. Nobody was convinced we were going to transform the waterfront. I consider all of the initial residents as pioneers. They were living in the middle of a construction site in a neighborhood that hadn't been developed. We were asking them for some faith."

Asked what initially attracted the company to the site, LeFrak responds, "It was a mile of waterfront facing Manhattan where you had the ability to create a neighborhood from scratch."

Now, LeFrak, along with Melvin Simon & Associates, is planning the next phase of Newport development.

Early in June, the chairman broke ground for the 429-room Westin Newport - Jersey City and announced plans for three residential towers that will add 688 rental apartments and 220 more condominium units to the Newport community. The residential units will include: The Eclipse, a waterfront residential tower adjacent to the 14th Street pier that will consist of 325 apartments and stand 460 feet high; The Shore Club Condominium at Newport North Towers, which will be a 28-story condominium residence, with 229 units (it is the sister project of the Shore Club Condominiums, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, but is already 100 percent sold); and The Aqua, a 330-foot-high, 31-story apartment building with 363 units located on River Drive.

The new Westin Hotel, to be completed by the summer of 2008, will be operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, and will include a conference center, a 10,000 square-foot ballroom, banquet facilities, pool and fitness center and a 5,000 square-foot restaurant.

According to LeFrak, nine million square feet of space can still be accommodated at Newport. "The site, now as planned, will consist of 16 more high-rise buildings." Though he has not announced any new office space construction, LeFrak says the company is working on a plan for an additional 1 million square feet of office space.

LeFrak says the tenants in his Jersey City office buildings are the "cream of the financial world." Most are New York-based firms that have moved technical operations, back office administrative services and trading operations to Jersey City. Tenants include JP Morgan Chase Bank, Knight Securities, UBS, U.S. Trust Co., Brown Brothers Harriman, Union Bank of Switzerland, HSBC Bank USA and ABN Amro.

Office buildings at Newport include: the 14-story, 472,093 square-foot Newport Financial Center at 111 Pavonia; the 36-story, one million square-foot Newport Tower at 525 Washington Boulevard; the 547,795 square-foot, 14-story Paine Webber Building at 499 Washington Boulevard; the 22-story, 860,835 square-foot Insurance Services Office (ISO) Building at 545 Washington Boulevard; the 21-story, 780,000 square-foot 575 Washington Boulevard and, across the street, the 10-story, 345,000 square-foot 570 Boulevard; the 32-story, 1.1 million square-foot UBS Building at 480 Washington Boulevard; and the six-story, 90,000 square-foot 100 Pavonia Avenue.

Able to support 4 million square feet of new development is another famed waterfront commercial property, Harborside Financial Center, which traces its roots back to the 1970s, and is now owned by Mack-Cali, the Cranford-based real estate investment trust (REIT). The company bought the Harborside complex in 1996 and has since developed a number of buildings.

Today, according to Mack-Cali President and CEO Mitchell E. "Mitch" Hersh, "The waterfront again has gained a whole new level of viability and credibility in serving the needs of corporate America and the global economy."

The company owns and services 4.3 million square feet of space in Jersey City. "We can develop another component roughly equal to that," Hersh says. Harborside Plazas 1, 2 and 3, totaling some 1.9 million square feet of space, were in existence when Mack-Cali purchased the property. Since then, it has developed additional buildings, including Harborside Financial Plaza 10, consisting of 577,575 square feet for Charles Schwab Company. The building was eventually sold to iStar Financial, but Mack-Cali continues to manage the facility. Mack-Cali also built Plaza 4a, consisting of 207,670 square feet, and Plaza 5, which is 977,225 square feet.

In February, Citco Fund Services announced it was leaving Manhattan and moving as many as 300 employees to Plaza 10 by the end of the year. The 70,000 square feet it is moving into is controlled by American Financial Realty Trust, a Pennsylvania-based REIT.

Now, Mack-Cali has plans for: Harborside Plaza 4, which will consist of one million square feet; Plaza 6, at 600,000 square feet; Plaza 7, at 1.8 million square feet; and Plazas 8 and 9 for a combined 1.1 million square feet, which may be sold to condominium developers. According to Hersh, "We feel there is continued need to supplement housing along the waterfront, which creates a tremendous sense of community."

Hersh is currently in discussions with several New York-based companies that could be the future tenants of the planned office buildings. "We are discussing several pre-lease commitments on several of these towers. Depending on how they evolve into lease commitments would influence our decision to build. It is not our intention to build any spec buildings of any substance."

Hersh says lease rates for new commercial developments are about half of what one would find in midtown Manhattan. "These are 21st Century buildings," he says of the Harborside locations. "The older buildings in midtown offer little flexibility for restacking, with limitations on floor plate sizes."

Last year, Mack-Cali purchased the 1.25 million square-foot 101 Hudson Street, the second tallest office building in the state next to the 42-story, 1.43 million square-foot Goldman Sachs Building at 30 Hudson Street. "101 Hudson is a trophy building," says Hersh. "We bought it for $263 per square foot, while new development costs somewhere in the $375 per-square-foot range. It was a magnificent value-creator for Mack-Cali."

Current tenants at the 10-year-old building include Merrill Lynch and PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC). This past February, PWC leased an additional 12,000 square feet at the location, bringing its total presence at the building to 33,230 square feet. The accounting and consulting firm was represented in the deal by Newmark Knight Frank.

Other transactions at Mack-Cali properties within the year included: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation for 40,470 square feet, Fred Alger & Co., Inc. for 37,785 square feet and Deutsche Bank extending its lease for 90,000 square feet at Harborside Financial Center Plaza 1; and National Fire Union Insurance Company expanding its space at 101 Hudson Street by 38,507 square feet for a total of 317,799 square feet.

In the summer of 2002, Mack-Cali opened, in conjunction with the Hyatt Corporation, the 350-guestroom Hyatt Regency Jersey City, which offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel, according to Andrew Davidson, general manager, is running at a 92 percent occupancy rate.
"Approximately 250,000 guests pass through the hotel each year. I don't know if I want anymore demand than what I've already got," Davidson says. The hotel picked up a Four-Star, Four Diamond award last year. "There is nothing on the shoreline here that has this kind of recognition," says Davidson.

"Primarily, we've been a business hotel, with Goldman Sachs being one of our best customers. We are picking up a ton of domestic business from around the country that first want to be in New York, but find our prices more competitive," he says. With the announcement of new hotels under development in Jersey City, Davidson says that competition will be good for everyone.

Atop the Palisades Ridge, in the heart of Jersey City, evolution on a grand scale is taking place at the former site of the Jersey City Medical Center. New York-based developer Metrovest Equities, Inc. is investing $350 million to transform the classic art deco landmark property into a 14-acre, 10-building luxury residential community known as The Beacon. It is the largest historical redevelopment project in New Jersey and one of the most ambitious ever undertaken in the United States.

The hospital was built between 1928 and 1941 under the direction of famed Jersey City Mayor Frank "I am the Law" Hague, who served from May 15, 1917 until his retirement on June 17, 1947. His vision was to provide the city's poor with free health care while keeping them loyal to his Democratic political machine. He kept an office within Murdoch Hall at the hospital and named the maternity hospital after his mother, Margaret.

The hospital, too large to maintain over the decades, began closing down in sections. It closed down altogether with the opening of the new $217-million, 420-bed Jersey City Medical Center - Wilzig Hospital (named after Ziggi Wilzig, holocaust survivor and founder of the former Trust Company Bank of Jersey City).

The Beacon's first two buildings, now under construction and scheduled to be ready by next year, are already 75 percent sold out. The Rialto is a 22-story tower with 164 residences ranging from 700 square feet to 3,200 square feet in studios, lofts and one- to two-bedroom layouts. The 21-story The Capitol will offer 151 residences ranging in size from 600 square feet to 3,100 square feet. Prices at The Beacon start at $300,000 for a 750 square-foot, one-bedroom unit. A two-bedroom unit at 1,400 square feet is in the mid-$700,000 range. Rooftop duplexes are expected to sell for more than $2 million.

Metrovest is investing $110 million in renovating the first two buildings. Eventually, the site will become a miniature city of 1,100 condos, apartments, retail shops and restaurants. The company has been active in Jersey City redevelopment and rehabilitation for some time, producing more than 1,600 residential units and close to 2 million square feet of commercial and retail space.

According to President George Filopoulus, the attraction to The Beacon project is "the ability to offer first-class product minutes from Manhattan at a fraction of the cost." He says the condos, sitting 90 feet above the city, will offer stunning panoramic views of the New York and Jersey City skylines and the rest of the state.

Metrovest is also planning Grand Plaza, a 26-acre site southeast of The Beacon. An underutilized site with industrial buildings, plus a vacant lot, the company plans a mixed-use development consisting of a 150,000 square-foot shopping center and 230 townhouse units.

In what is considered Jersey City's first high-rise condo development in the last 10 to 15 years, KOR Companies, at press time, is expected to announce the grand opening of Montgomery Greene, a $52-million, 20-story luxury condominium also in the heart of the city at the corners of Montgomery and Green streets, between the financial district and Paulus Hook.

According to Harry Kantor, president and CEO of KOR Companies, 80 units at the 113-unit complex have been sold. Studios start at 500 square feet, while one-bedroom units range from 900 to 1,000 square feet, two-bedrooms from 1,200 to 1,400 and three-bedrooms, 1,900. There are eight penthouse units. The condos are selling for $700 per square foot.

Amenities at the location include a 2,600 square-foot roof terrace, a 123-vehicle parking garage, a state-of-the-art gym and loading dock facilities. There is also approximately 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.
KOR is also involved in the "Grand Development District" adjacent to the Marina at Liberty Harbor, where it is planning two 35-story towers containing 500 units.

Similar to The Beacon project, in that a former hospital site is being turned into condominiums, Exeter Properties, a long-time Jersey City developer, is busy transforming the former St. Francis Hospital complex into a 225-unit residence. According to Eric Silverman, a principal of the firm, a new building will be constructed while an existing hospital building will be renovated. "We will be removing the skin of the building and recessing the 8th and 10th floors. A new street will be created between the two buildings. The two sites will consist of approximately 350,000 square feet with 40,000 square feet of commercial space.

Exeter is investing $100 million into the hospital property. "The zoning has been changed and a redevelopment plan has been adopted," says Silverman. He says the condos will sell from between $300,000 to $1 million. The estimated completion date for the project is three years.

In 2002, Exeter began renovating an area on Grove Street, across from City Hall, where the Majestic Theater once stood. This $20-million project included the restoration of four landmark buildings and the construction of a new seven-story condominium totaling 140,000 square feet, complete with underground parking.

Located within the four renovated landmark buildings are The Bar Majestic and The Merchant Bar & Restaurant, as well as Tia's Place, a clothing and home goods store, and a florist. "We look for creative entrepreneurs who can add something to the community," says Silverman.

Adjacent to the Majestic and City Hall lies a corner property where Exeter is planning Majestic II, where it will build 85 apartments.

In the Hamilton Park section of town near St. Francis Hospital, Exeter has renovated the Park Foundry building into 32 rental lofts. This $8-million project, completed in 1999, includes 10,000 square feet of commercial space.
Directly across from Park Foundry, the company is now building the first new loft building in the state. Known as The Schroeder Lofts, the $30-million project will consist of 60 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, all with high ceilings.

Among the biggest news in the city was the announcement of Trump Plaza: Jersey City, the $415-million condominium project that would include the two tallest residential towers in the state. Located at Washington and Bay streets, it will definitely consist of a 531,500 square-foot, 55-story tower with 445 condominium homes, and, at press-time, may consist of a 481,283 square-foot, 50-story tower with 417 homes. The towers will rise from a 328,658 square-foot, seven-story base, housing a garage with 696 parking spaces and 23,000 square feet of retail space. The studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom residential units will range in size from 750 to 2,224 square feet.

Partners in the project include Donald Trump and Metro Homes founder Dean Geibel and partner Paul Fried. The two-acre parcel was originally acquired by Panepinto Properties of Jersey City, which, along with Applied Development Company of Hoboken, initiated the two-tower concept and design. They remain partners in the project.

A project that is following the "new urbanism" design, Cotter, the city's planning director, proudly points to Liberty Harbor North Redevelopment, an 86-acre site across from Liberty State Park that is knitted into the fabric of the city's street grid pattern. "Currently, 1,000 residential units are being constructed. When fully completed, it will consist of 6,000," Cotter says.
The principal developers of the project are Peter Mocco and Jeff Zak, but according to Cotter, other developers are building in the area. These include: Metro Homes, which is building a 20-story tower; Shenkman & Kuschner, which is building 330 luxury apartments at Liberty Harbor I and 500 at Liberty Harbor II; Roseland Properties; and Applied Development Company.
The 86-acre mixed-use development will also have: 775,000 square-feet for retail; 175,000 square-feet for school facilities; 1.1 million square-feet for a hotel; and 4.6 million square-feet for offices.

Developers have also been busy on Jersey City's other waterfront - the west side of town facing Newark Bay. "Honeywell is cleaning up chromium at a site along Route 440. That opens up a whole new opportunity for development," Cotter says. He specifically mentions the Bayside Redevelopment Plan, the proposal to redevelop the 75-acre area between Communipaw, Bergen and Stevens avenues and Newark Bay. Laid out two to three years ago, the plan calls for 15,000 to 20,000 residential units and a couple million square feet of office and retail space.

"We want Route 440 on the west side to emerge from being a back highway to being a waterfront boulevard," says Barbara A. Netchert, director of the Jersey City Office of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce. "The industrial chromium sites are finally coming around to be remediated and will be ready for development in the next several years."

Boston-based Cathartes has built The Residences at Westside Station, a 52-unit residential development that includes retail space. Approximately 800-plus units are planned at Westside Station, according to the company. Townhomes range from 1,394 square feet to 1,465 square feet, lofts from 760 square feet to 1,360 square feet and studios from 975 square feet. Directly across from the Light Rail, Westside Station, it is 10 minutes from downtown Jersey City and 20 minutes from Manhattan.

There is a plethora of other residential projects completed and under development throughout the city. What follows is a brief description of some of these projects.

K. Hovnanian and Equity Residential are paying Secaucus-based Hartz Mountain Industries $70 million for a 1.7 acre parcel of land where they will build two 48-story residential towers at 77 Hudson Street. The two 500-foot towers, according to planning documents, would total 925,000 square feet and have 901 units. There would be a parking garage for 896 vehicles and 20,000 square feet of retail space.

K. Hovnanian at Paulus Hook is a 68-home condominium complex that offers one- two- and three-bedroom homes ranging in size from 600 square feet to more than 1,500 square feet, with prices starting at $600,000.

New York-based The Athena Group and GoldenTree InSite Partners are building 'A' Jersey City, a $110-million luxury condominium project near the Hudson River waterfront at 389 Washington Boulevard. Expected to be completed by the fall of 2007, the 33-story tower will offer 250 condominium units with views of Manhattan, 10,500 square feet of retail space and a 238-space parking garage.

At Porte Liberte along the Hudson River, Applied Development Company is developing a resort style community with 155 residences featuring one- two- and three-bedroom homes, ranging from $425,000 to $1 million. One-, two- and three- and four-bedroom duplex designs are also available. These two-story homes sit atop a 15-story building rising above the waterfront. One special feature is the on-site marina with available, individual boat slips.

To be ready for occupancy by June 2007 is SK Properties' Grove Point Condominiums, an 11-story building with 67 residential units at 102 Christopher Columbus Drive. Ranging in size from 750 to 1,289 square feet in one- and two-bedroom designs, residences will start at $495,000.

Recently opened, Pinnacle Companies is selling Mandalay on the Hudson, a 26-story tower featuring 269 condominium units being offered in the mid-$300,000 range for one- to three-bedroom homes.

Zanco, Inc. has opened Essex Commons, a new luxury apartment building in the Paulus Hook section of the city. The seven-story, 90,000 square-foot residential building with 70 units, from low-rise homes to one-, two- and three-bedrooms apartments, offers views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Jarmel Kizel provided full architecture and engineering services for the project.

D6 Development, LLC is renovating 50 Journal Square, better known as the Arcade Building, from an office complex to a luxury condominium building with six 1,500 square-foot units and a 2,500 square-foot penthouse. Land entitlement work, as well as architectural and engineering design for the 12,000 square-foot, eight-story building were supplied by Jarmel Kizel.
With all of this planned construction, and with 65,000 more units estimated in the next 25 years, one wonders if there will be glut of residential units. Exeter's Silverman says the bigger question is how many apartment buildings can the New York City region absorb?

"Just to look at Jersey City is a mistake. This is a sub-market of Manhattan," he says. "The nice thing is that this time around the infrastructure and critical mass are starting to develop here . . . The more apartments the better."

According to Metrovest's Filopoulus, "Quality projects will benefit from the brisk commercial leasing market in Jersey City. Thousands of new employees are moving in as the city continues to attract major corporations relocating and expanding from Manhattan. This translates into a lot of potential purchasers."

KOR Companies' Kantor says there are a lot of high-rise buildings coming on-line, but "builders have a terrific sense of denial that the economic climate will go south. Not acknowledging the projects already in motion, I would quite frankly question the timing of (any new) projects. He advises developers to take a long-term approach in building.

When asked about an increase in traffic due to the possible influx of people moving into these buildings, Cotter says that traffic is a function of the availability of mass transit. "Jersey City's modal split is somewhere around 70 percent (70 percent of residents use mass transit to get to work). It's close to Manhattan's split of 80 percent," he says.

"The light rail system got here just in time. It's the lowest subsidized trolley system in the country. In terms of parking ratios, we park about one car for every five employees. That makes us an extremely green town," he says.
As a place to further attract businesses, Mayor Healy states there will never be a payroll tax in the city as long as he is in office. "I want the investment community to know that," he says. "In my opinion, it is a disincentive to investment. I think it would cause firms to start looking around for greener pastures outside the city." According to a resource guide developed by the city's economic development corporation, there are also no city sales, capital stock, city income, personal property, unincorporated business or commercial leased taxes in the city.

At press-time, Healy has asked for two legislative initiatives that he thinks will provide the city with annual renewable sources of income. One is a hotel tax, which the city currently is not allowed to impose. The second is a realty transfer fee, perhaps $1 for every thousand dollars of a property's sale price, that would go directly to the city.

He says the city still has its problems, most notably crime and public education (the public school system has been under state control for 16 years). Yet, things are turning around.
"When I was running for office 10 years ago, I went through a lot of neighborhoods people would never consider walking through. Now, I notice that the housing stock has improved. People are taking better care of their properties. I have noticed there isn't a vacant lot or abandoned building in the city. You couldn't even give away these things 10 years ago. Growth and development has moved north, south, east, west . . . all over. The old saying goes 'a rising tide lifts all boats.' That's certainly true of Jersey City."

TimmyG

August 14th, 2006, 04:03 PM

Both the Trump project and the A tower were up to the second or third story when I rode by on Sunday. Something was getting started on the corner of Sixth and Washington. I assume it was the Westin Hotel.

JCMAN320

August 14th, 2006, 11:41 PM

Yes there is the Elipse on the pier at Newport. The circular building.

Also Piano, where are you talking about. There is an even mix of mid-income and high income in downtown. Yes at the Beacon is an area where is starting to go back into it's old glorious image. The projects wil be torn down and the area is already start to pick up.

Listen Jersey City is a great place to live and I loved growing up here. I love its urbaninity and it cohesive fabric of different neighborhoods. Not everything has to be yuppieville.

I'am a 20 and majoring in Urban Studies at SPC and I got news for you. Hoboken is really bitting off it's nose to spite it's face by shutting down perfectly good businesses that have bene shown in the Jersey lately. Hoboken has become a boutique town and a town such as that is questionable whether it can self sustain. I prerfect example of point is the fact that Hoboken went broke this past year and as we love to call it, is so became Hobroken. Hoboken is at risk for this to happen again. By forcing out whatever middle class is left in Hoboken in it's southwest corner, which now will get torn apart and redevloped for condos and force the last middle class out. A town such as this can't sustain itself. It has happened in Apsen, and down in one the Islands in South Carloina outerbanks. I will talk to my aunt about it because she is the one that told me about it and my urban studies professor elaborated on it. All you have is the rail terminal, two small office buildings and one hotel which is under construction and thats it. The shops along Washington are not enough to sustain. This question of whether Hoboken can sustain as a boutqiue town is even raised on Wikipedia.com when you look up Hoboken.

So watch out, yuppieville is not utopia!

OmegaNYC

August 15th, 2006, 04:06 PM

If Hoboken goes broke again, Jersey City should annex it. :rolleyes:

ablarc

August 15th, 2006, 06:27 PM

Hoboken has become a boutique town and a town such as that is questionable whether it can self sustain. I prerfect example of point is the fact that Hoboken went broke this past year and as we love to call it, is so became Hobroken. Hoboken is at risk for this to happen again. By forcing out whatever middle class is left in Hoboken in it's southwest corner, which now will get torn apart and redevloped for condos and force the last middle class out. A town such as this can't sustain itself.
What are you talking about?? Can't tell.

Technical exposition, please --and it's got to make sense.

JCMAN320

August 15th, 2006, 09:01 PM

ablarc

August 15th, 2006, 09:12 PM

"Many of those who remain worry that if present trends continue unabated the town will consist of little else than restaurants/bars, bank branches, real-estate brokers and cellphone stores, and question whether such a "boutique town" is sustainable in the long run."
Sustainable in what sense? Socially?

Certainly there's no danger of economic unsustainability in such a place. Why would folks move out because of these establishments? And if they moved out, wouldn't other people and other businesses move in, re-establishing a healthy balance?

Is this statement thought out? I still can't make out its meaning.

JCMAN320

August 15th, 2006, 11:34 PM

Yes economics because how are those small businesses enough tax revenue. All Hoboken has are two small office buildings, the terminal, and a new hotel and the college and a tiny hospital. That is not enough. I mean if you need anything in bulk in Hoboken you habe to go out of town to get it. Small shops are on one main drag are not going to be enough in the long run. Nothing is going to be made there anymore and all its going to become is a condo farm and brownstones wiht nothing beiing made or shipped or anything. A preverbial bedroom community. If and when there is a a recession, Hoboken will get killed. So will welathy areas of Manhattan and Jersey City for that matter.

tbal

August 15th, 2006, 11:55 PM

"If and when there is a a recession, Hoboken will get killed. So will welathy areas of Manhattan and Jersey City for that matter."

The wealthy areas won't get hurt. The bulk of the employee cuts that employers make during recessions are the lowest paid people in the company (usually the most recently hired employees). The people who live in Newport and Hoboken are seen by companies as too "critical" to the survival of the companies to be laid off during an economic downturn (plus the people there all apparently have the right "connections"), but the people who have smaller, lower-salaried roles in the company (people who live away from the waterfront area, like me, unfortunately!) will most likely be laid off. During the last recession, the people who live at places like Avalon Cove and the Newport towers were still mostly employed; people further west in the more middle-class areas are the ones who suffered.

Zoe

August 16th, 2006, 01:00 AM

That is a pretty good amount of commerce for only a square mile town. Not to mention the smaller office buidings, the 3rd tower going up and the residential tax base that has most likely doubled in the past 10 years.

pianoman11686

August 16th, 2006, 01:11 AM

From Wikipedia:.

"The population of "newcomers" or "yuppies", as they are typically called in the local press, consists of college and post-graduate students, bi-nationals, older artists and, increasingly, well-to-do commuters to Manhattan. The presence of these individuals gives Hoboken a unique energy and a growing reputation as a desirable place to live. However, the rising cost of living in the town, particularly in rental units, has already resulted in a significant exodus of the "bohemian" population that was responsible for turning the city's reputation around."

"Many of those who remain worry that if present trends continue unabated the town will consist of little else than restaurants/bars, bank branches, real-estate brokers and cellphone stores, and question whether such a "boutique town" is sustainable in the long run."

Also the fact that Hoboken is closing up perfectly good businesses as stated in recent articles to build condos in their stead is alarming in the sense that they have no regard for the people that have lived and worked there their whole lives. This a dangerous path the city is on and if unabated, like it says in the article, Hoboken may not be sustainable as just a city itself.

JCMAN: I find it bewildering that you chose to highlight such a small fraction of the commentary on Hoboken, specifically the most negative fraction. From the very same article on Wikipedia:

Hoboken surprised many people by reinventing itself as a haven for artists, musicians, and young, upwardly mobile Manhattan commuters. This gentrification took place in much the same way as in the Manhattan neighborhood of SoHo, whereby the initial presence of artists changed the perception of the city such that other people who would not have considered moving there before now perceived it as an interesting, safe, and even desirable address. The gentrification process has continued, with many new apartment blocks now being constructed on former industrial sites, both on the waterfront and, increasingly, in the low-lying western portions of the city that were traditionally the most impoverished.

And this portion directly precedes the quote you chose to single out:

Then, in the late 1970s, the town witnessed a surprising speculation spree fueled by transplanted New Yorkers, which over the course of two decades displaced the native population as wealthier newcomers bought up the turn-of-the-century brownstones the native population had maintained intact. Amid this social upheaval, Hoboken experienced a rejuvenation that led to its becoming, by the mid-1990s, easily one of the state's most vibrant communities. As mentioned above, the key factor in the turnaround was the adoption of the town by artists and "bohemian types" with close ties to New York City who valued the superior aesthetics of Hoboken's residential, civic and commercial architecture, along with the quick train hop into Lower Manhattan.

The city today is noted for its excellent views of Manhattan, fine-grained street grid, historic architecture, and lively collection of restaurants and bars. Its compactness and historic street layout mean that a car is more of a hindrance than a help in getting around, and the city retains a basic pedestrian orientation. On weekend nights the town swells with young partygoers from nearby New Jersey towns who practice a rowdier style of barhopping than is fashionable across the river in Manhattan. Hoboken pockets their liquor money and quiet Sundays see families and artsy types back in possession of streets and parks.

Hoboken's gentrification has become relatively advanced, though a large base of native residents remains in the city and holds political power. The population of "newcomers" or "yuppies"...

In addition to this generally positive description, I will point out these differences in demographics between Hoboken and your Jersey City:

Hoboken's population density is over 30,000 per square mile, while Jersey City's is 16,000; Hoboken's median household income is nearly $25,000 higher than Jersey City's, which is nearly $38,000. Even New York City's household income eclipses this. It seems your city is less successful in several important respects that make a truly "urban" city a good place to live in: a higher than average standard of living, and a critical density of people to give it an urban feel. This occurs despite the fact that Jersey City possesses, ostensibly, a much larger pool of high-paying, office jobs, and many more highrise residential buildings. In contrast, Hoboken is mainly low-rise, and does not have many commercial buildings (as per your account).

When I drove through Hoboken a few months ago, on the same day as I visited parts of Jersey City, I was struck at how well-preserved it was, and was indeed reminded of Soho and certain sections of low-rise, gentrified historic Brooklyn. There is no doubt that Hoboken has, for the longest time, been a more desireable place to live in, and the fact that it is undergoing the kind of changes you deplore is a direct result of its years of desirability.

I must disagree with your notion of unsustainability, economically speaking, at least. Wherever people of greater wealth move, they bring with them a much greater demand for services that lower-income people wouldn't dream of requiring. We already see evidence of this in the imminent arrival of an upscale W Hotel, along with the requisite spa and restaurant it will undoubtedly possess. Others will follow, replacing the remnants of industry that used to make it a thriving blue-collar neighborhood, just as New York's manufacturing districts of old are reinhabited and reinvigorated by people looking for lofts, culture, and history. I saw much less evidence of this in Jersey City, which, by contrast, seems to be leaping forward from no-man's land in many places (e.g., the Beacon, and the former waterfront railyards/industrial sites) to luxury housing for - you guessed it - the yuppies. In some respects, this has the potential to be even more volatile than Hoboken in the long-term. What happens when the financial markets crash again, and firms abandon their overflow office space? What happens when Manhattan's vacancies rise, and people no longer have to search in New Jersey for cheaper places to live? The tax base will crumble, and Jersey City will go into the red; primarily residential areas, however, tend to be more rigid, because people are connected to their quiet, tree-lined streets, and their brownstones and lofts. It's not just a place to move to for a few years when you first get a job in the area; it's a place you grow to cherish, and would be hard pressed to give up. My impression is that Hoboken fits this description much more strongly than Jersey City does.

Before you fire back your response, please be mindful that I am in fact speaking on very initial impressions, and I don't mean to proclaim absolute truths. However, I cannot get past the fact that you continue to use every iota of evidence you can find to raise Jersey City's status as a city, even if, more broadly, the evidence doesn't suggest anything of the sort. I understand you have hometown pride, and that's all well and good, but don't let yourself get blinded by that mainly positive outlook.

TimmyG

August 16th, 2006, 11:15 AM

Powerhouse designation threatened

Wednesday, August 16, 2006 By JARRETT RENSHAW

JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
The Jersey City council will consider today dramatic changes to the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment plan that will strip the area of its historic designation and remove oversight from the city's Historic Preservation Commission.
The proposed changes are a result of the 111 First St. settlement and threaten to alter the district's historical character by lifting protections - potentially allowing developers to do less restoration and more new building, critics argue.
Toll Brothers, for example, is preparing to file a site plan for a 40-story high-rise at the site of the Manischewitz building in the district, a project that would not happen if not for the settlement, several city officials said.
"The Powerhouse Arts District is that in name only. What we're going to have is a high-rise district," said Downtown City Councilman Steve Fulop, adding that the city was forced to recommend the changes out of fear of more lawsuits.
The settlement allowed the owner of 110 and 111 First St. - Lloyd Goldman of New Gold Equities - to bypass the district's strict historic preservation regulations and build high-rise towers following a lengthy and costly lawsuit.
The judge in the legal battle invalidated the Warehouse Historic District - which shielded the area's historic structures from wreckage - and forced the city to request the changes, said Jersey City Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis.
Today's vote will marry the ruling with the city's redevelopment plan, complying with the terms of the settlement, he said.
"It's a real problem," said Joshua Parkhurst, president of Jersey City's Landmark Conservancy. "We opposed the settlement from the beginning, and now the other buildings are no longer adequately protected."
City officials said the proposed changes will have no impact on plans for artist housing, which is a key component of the plan.

macmini

August 16th, 2006, 03:33 PM

From www.nj.com (http://www.nj.com/) August 16, 2006

Goldman Sachs building to get a little brother

Financial giant Goldman Sachs got the OK today to start the process of planning and constructing a 500-foot, 30-story tower next to its Downtown Jersey City skyscraper, which is the tallest building in the state.

In going before the city council to ask for a change in the Colgate redevelopment plan that will allow for this new building, Gold Sachs reps indicated they weren't interested in garnering the approval to make the 50 Hudson St. property more attractive for sale. Rather, they said, they are interested in building the new tower themselves.

The council voted unanimously, 9-0, to OK the change.

Goldman Sachs reps said the city can expect to see site plans within 30 days.

Jarrett Renshaw

tbal

August 16th, 2006, 10:32 PM

I think this pretty much marks the official beginning of the Jersey City office tower boom! :) :cool: :)

OmegaNYC

August 17th, 2006, 12:36 PM

Who is messing with JC, when it comes to the boom in it's downtown??? Ahh, that's what I thought. :)

macmini

August 17th, 2006, 12:45 PM

Increase to proposed tower approved by city

Thursday, August 17, 2006By JARRETT RENSHAW
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Global financial giant Goldman Sachs received city approval yesterday to increase the size of a proposed office tower on the Jersey City waterfront from 185 feet to 500 feet, but plans to build a public atrium in the new facility were scrapped.

The changes were included in amendments to the Colgate Redevelopment plan unanimously approved by the Jersey City City Council yesterday.
Under the old redevelopment plan, Goldman Sachs promised to build a curved, glass roof public atrium connecting the Hudson Walkway with Hudson Street.

The amended plan now calls for an open-air plaza, which city officials say will provide better views of the Manhattan skyline. The plaza will feature a number of retail shops.

In addition, the city amended the redevelopment plan to allow for a 500-foot building at 50 Hudson St.

Behind the scenes, several city officials raised questions about the intentions of Goldman Sachs.

The company's current Jersey City building - the state's tallest with a capacity for about 5,000 employees - is less than half full. And of the company's 2,140 employees, only 149 live in Jersey City, according to city records.

"Goldman has been a great neighbor, but I just hope that they plan to build it," Downtown Councilman Steve Fulop said.

Goldman Sachs officials said they plan to have their current building "two-thirds" full by next year.

© 2006 The Jersey Journal © 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.

jersey

August 18th, 2006, 12:43 AM

I live in downtown Jersey City and I am familiar with and like Hoboken. But I can see where Hoboken has lost something. It used to have grit an attitude and interesting people living there, now there is a uniform populous and even more homogenous buildings being built.

As a JC resident I can see the same bad decisions being made by our politicians we need to enforce good zoning and save the powerhouse arts district, I want to see more interesting people move in not less. Don't get me wrong Hoboken is a nice enough place with a much better main drag than JC but it is not a real city. Even though piano man mentions density, density does not make a city. The fact that Jersey City is a center of regional employment, has huge economic output, and a large population makes it a city a first class one at that.

If you look at Hoboken, where are the jobs where is the employment, it not there. The residents of Hoboken are dependent largely on NYC and JC to provide them with what is missing in their city. Also the road system in Hoboken sucks, Hoboken is a drain on Jersey city depending on our medical center, fire department and road system. Everything is peachy in Hoboken as long as Jersey city keeps it running.

Also it is my opinion that the housing stock, and many of the streets in Jersey City are much nicer than what is available in Hoboken. Where I live you find 1850's brownstones beautifully renovated on tree lined streets. The thing that people have against JC is the presence of poor people and people with brown skin, both things that do not bother me. Don't teachers, police officers, and the general people who keep the economy moving deserve a nice place to live, I don't see a problem here. Sure there still are unsavory types but it is improving every day.

So while I appreciate Hoboken and think it is very nice, I don't think we need a Jersey city-Hoboken war. Both are great places, very nice almost one and the same given the proximity, they both have problems just different ones. The more interesting battle is the Secacus/Weehawk/Hobo/JC combo vs. brooklyn or Queens. I honestly think that besides public transport NJ is much nicer.

JCMAN320

August 19th, 2006, 07:54 PM

Jersey I had taken time to think of a intellegent repsonse to Pianoman and you covered what I was going to say perfectly. Thank you.

macmini

August 19th, 2006, 07:56 PM

The Cliffs Condo's now in progress

6 months ago
http://static.flickr.com/43/106007323_5e1649f79f_o.jpg

Now
http://static.flickr.com/75/218101357_e96603cb0f_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/89/217369780_03aeaaf3c5_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/89/217369779_e678269593_b.jpg

TeddyJ

August 19th, 2006, 08:12 PM

What city is that? Englewood Cliff?

macmini

August 19th, 2006, 08:16 PM

What city is that? Englewood Cliff?

It's Jersey City

JCMAN320

August 20th, 2006, 03:51 AM

PORT AUTHORITY, AREA OFFICIALS OPEN KEY SECTION OF HUDSON RIVER WATERFRONT WALKWAY AND PARK IN JERSEY CITY

Date: August 15, 2006
Press Release Number: 55-2006

Port Authority Chairman Anthony R. Coscia today joined New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson, Hudson County Executive Thomas DeGise, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and other area officials at the opening of a new section of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and park.

This completed section of the walkway, which was constructed by the Port Authority, allows for future sections to be built that will connect Jersey City’s Newport waterfront community to Hoboken and beyond. Construction began in January and was completed on an accelerated schedule. The project was originally scheduled for completion in 2007. The Port Authority also constructed a small park connected to the walkway.

“The Port Authority advanced this project on an accelerated schedule because its importance to Hudson County was clear,” said Port Authority Chairman Coscia. “We are always happy to partner with NJDEP and Hudson County to invest in projects that increase open space and improve quality of life in this community.”

“This event marks the completion of yet another link in the Hudson Waterfront Walkway and another step toward completing a walkway that will allow our residents to stroll the length of the Hudson River from North Bergen to Bayonne,” said County Executive DeGise. “Thanks to the PA, NJDEP, and the City of Jersey City for all their support in this effort.”

"With about 11 miles complete, the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway continues to reshape the revitalization of Jersey City's waterfront into a vibrant business community and recreational center for residents and visitors alike," said Mayor Healy.

The completed section of the walkway is 300 feet long and 30 feet wide, landscaped with a connecting quarter-acre park. The total cost for the project was $2 million, which includes costs for various security measures as the walkway and park are adjacent to the Port Authority’s Holland Tunnel ventilation buildings. The City of Jersey City will manage and operate the park. Crisdel Group Inc., of South Plainfield, was the construction contractor for the project.

Additionally, the Port Authority has committed $2.75 million to fund additional sections of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway in the vicinity of Exchange Place. The Department of Environmental Protection, the lead agency, will manage the construction of those sections.

The full Hudson River Waterfront Walkway project is an 18.5-mile-long public waterfront corridor through nine municipalities from the George Washington Bridge to the Bayonne Bridge.

ablarc

August 20th, 2006, 10:44 AM

macmini, that series of photos you posted is appalling. Why don't they just abandon all pretense of preservation and knock down those pitiful remnants?

JCMAN320

August 20th, 2006, 03:22 PM

Ablarc because here in Jersey City we like to have character, we preserve historic structures and appreciate them to keep the history of our great city alive.

ablarc

August 20th, 2006, 05:01 PM

Ablarc because here in Jersey City we like to have character, we preserve historic structures and appreciate them to keep the history of our great city alive.
JCMAN, that's preposterous! That comical sham doesn't represent either preservation or character.

Hope that's not representative of JC, but I'm afraid it is. It's certainly nothing to be proud of.

JCMAN, do you not read the Fprum's other sections? I would have expected you to acquire some sophistication from this board --enough at least to recognize the ludicrous, even when it rears its head in Jersey City.

You are too easily satisfied, my friend. You'll be much more useful to Jersey City if you raise your standards. You can do that by paying more attention to Wired New York (and, I think, a little less to your teachers).

Only the Chamber of Commerce believes that undiscriminating boosterism is good for a place. If you want to be of help to your hometown in the future, you'll need to learn discrimination. Even Jersey City has lousy projects. And mindless boosterism helps explain why there are so many.

.

JCMAN320

August 20th, 2006, 05:35 PM

If by sophistication you mean to become pompus and elitist, thx but I think I'll pass. If you mean by being well cultured and knowledgeable, well I think while of course not done learning and traveling at my young age of 20, I like to think that I'am very mature and intellgent for my age. You are the one acting like a child jumping on my comment and being conscending by insulting me and my city acting like you know everything. I'm sorry "my friend" but that doesn't look to sophisticated to me.

We have beaututiful perserved 18th, mid 19th, and turn of the century homes and structures well preserved here in Jersey City. You don't know thing about Jersey City or even respect it for that matter. Remember Ablarc I have lived here all my life, born and raised so my knowledge of the history of this city is far superior to yours. JC does not have lousy projects. It seems that is your opinion, and I respect that however miss guided it maybe, but it is not fact and that is one thing you have to remember. Also it is not the world according to Ablarc. You have a very narrowminded view of the world "my friend" and that is sad. You should be more open minded and apprecative and on top of that respectful. Why do I have to do what you say and what makes what you say correct. Just beacuse you say it? I think not Also whos to say that NY is perfect and you guys have done everything building project correct. Give me a break you guys are far from it.

Again please don't condescend me or insult me, my intellgence, my city, and my professors for that matter beacuse I won't stand for it!!

ablarc

August 20th, 2006, 05:49 PM

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

---Proverbs 12:15

JCMAN320

August 20th, 2006, 05:57 PM

Again thinking you are always right. I guess some things never change no matter how sophisticated you THINK you are, your arrogance overrides it.

ablarc

August 20th, 2006, 06:06 PM

Again thinking you are always right.
Could you entertain the possibility this might also apply to you?

JCMAN320

August 20th, 2006, 06:11 PM

Yes I'am guilty of it sometimes I admit but I'm young and still learning but when people come on here and make it seem that their opinions are fact, thats not fair.

steveikin

August 20th, 2006, 07:07 PM

ablarc/JCMan: I enjoy this board and I believe you both add value. However, your discussion right now is generating heat not light. Kiss and makeup - please.

ablarc

August 20th, 2006, 07:18 PM

Sorry to have upset you JCMAN. No need to take it so personally when projects in your city are criticized. You're not responsible for what is built.

If it'll make you feel better, I live in a city that has w-a-y more crap than Jersey City. :)

OmegaNYC

August 20th, 2006, 07:33 PM

okay, no baiting or fighting! :)

LocoAko

August 21st, 2006, 04:35 AM

wow I haven't been here in such a long time!

I'm really torn because JCMAN's view and a lot of other views. I'm only 16 years old (I live a few blocks from JCMAN) and I have been born and raised here, all my life. On one hand, seeing you guys bash Jersey City without even experiencing it and just driving through and making assumptions is sickening. There are so many classy areas in Jersey City, and people let the negatives outshadow the positives. I doubt many places in the U.S. have the diversity and culture JC has, if nothing else. There are so many distinct and different neighborhoods in Jersey City it's hard to take in for some people. The diversity in schools is amazing, and I've learned a lot. I love it here.

Now, on the other hand, while I really like you JCMAN I think you kind of have an unrealistic view of JC. Yes, it is improving amazingly, but there are still so many problems with it. You make it sound like there are barely any projects, but there are the Duncan ones (getting torn down though..), the ones on Montgomery, Holland Tunnel, Curry Woods, Lafayette, Hudson Gardens, etc. Also, the marked improvement seems to only be concentrated in some areas. It is slowly expanding especially with the NJCU expansion (which, from out my window, doesn't seem to be going anywhere fast - they knocked down the building but I haven't seen much progress after that) but other than that there are still many rundown areas of JC. Even I'm dissatisfied with my area because a lot of people come down from Greenville and Bergen and cause trouble here.

So while I love it, I also hate it. I usually have to travel to downtown (easily, albeit) to enjoy the newness of the city (although I still treasure the history and different neighborhoods). And to peopel who think downtown JC is trashy looking, I can't imagine what you would think of other areas. I go to school right by Hamilton Park by the Holland tunnel and I think the area is wonderful. Mayn friendly people all walking their dogs with nice little restaurants and parks to visit.... it's very beautiful.

OK, my rant is over. :)

macmini

August 21st, 2006, 04:30 PM

I'm not baiting or fighting, but the Cliffs project is BS their is nothing left to preserve they might as well tear down the entire thing. An I don't think any one was trying to say JC dosen't have it's historic sections. The Cliffs is just not one of them just because it's old dose not mean it's historic and needs to be saved.

JCMAN320

August 21st, 2006, 10:59 PM

I agree with you Acko. On all of it. I'm not tryingto make it seem perfect and I don't have an unrealistic view. I get pissed too when those 13-17 yo punks come down here to try and start shit but we take care of them. With projects he didn't mean housing projecta I don't think, he meant building projects in general that are getting built downtown. Are projects are being replaced with a mix of low to mid income houses that people own and are well take care of and you can't live in them if you have a criminal record. The only proejcts left standing are Ducan, and Montgomery Gardens. The rest are torn down. Duncan Projects are almost torn town and will be rplaced with real homes and Montgomery Gardens is on the chopping block. Yes there are areas of the city that still need help. But I got through those areas and see people taking care of there homes more and beign refurbushed, and more cops doing more. Through the city in general there seems to be a stornger sense of pride than ever before. People are coming in an wanting to stay here and love it here. With all the good happening its hard not see that JC is on the verge of a major haul not just in Downtown but in the entire city in general.

I'm also with u on the ignorant idiots that think they no JC when they have not the slightest clue.

tbal

August 21st, 2006, 11:34 PM

Getting back on topic...

I passed by 111 First Street on Saturday morning and noticed workers from "F & I Mechanical Services" working on the North Side of the building.

I was passing by the building again today, and noticed that the sidewalk sheds (those blue scaffold-type things over all the sidewalks surrounding the building) were all sealed off with tons (and I mean a lot) of yellow tape that read "police line - do not cross" (this was not there on Saturday, as I was taking pictures of the Athena tower from under there!). More surprising to me was the fact that about a third of the second floor windows were removed today.

I am getting the feeling that the building may come down within the next few weeks (windows are usually kept intact if the interior of a building is simply being renovated).

Lafayette

August 22nd, 2006, 04:27 PM

Hi, I have been following this thread for a while now, and I must say it is very educational regarding projects going on in JC. I just wanted to know if any of you had any new information on "The View" condo project supposedly to go up by Liberty State Park.

I found this on Craigslist "the Independent" condo, construction already started this is a conversion of an old abandoned factory site also in liberty state park (bergen-lafayette area). Are there any other renderings out there! I am very insterested since I live in this area.
http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2253&stc=1&d=1156273733

I am very glad to see new development spilling over to my side of town!

macmini

August 23rd, 2006, 07:50 PM

Deutsche Bank to move 1,200 jobs to Jersey City
by David Jones (djones@crain.com?subject=Deutsche Bank to move 1,200 jobs to Jersey City)

Deutsche Bank said Wednesday that it signed a 10-1/2-year lease for 228,000 square feet of office space on the Jersey City waterfront, and will relocate up to 1,200 workers from Manhattan by 2008.

The bank was awarded a $21.9 million grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority earlier this month, and is using the funds to more than double its existing offices at the Harborside Financial Center in Jersey City.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Deutsche Bank has a number of leases that are due to expire soon, according to a source with knowledge of the agreement, however it was not yet clear which offices would be moved.

The bank has about 10,000 employees in the New York area, including 6,000 at 60 Wall St. -- the U.S. headquarters for the German investment bank. Deutsche Bank officials said no employees would be moved out of Lower Manhattan.

The firm previously had 90,000 square feet of office space at the Harborside complex, and is adding more than 138,000 square feet. The bank has 350 employees in New Jersey, with a majority based at the Harborside complex.

Cranford, N.J.-based Mack-Cali Realty Corp. owns the building, which is now 79% leased.

JCMAN320

August 23rd, 2006, 11:27 PM

Tbal, 111 First is getting torn down to make way for a tower about 30 stories that will fit into the district. They will take the bricks and put the them back to use it as the base. It will have a caberet theatre and gallery and restauraunt space. That district will always have a a storng art presense. There will be like 3 towers in the whole distirct because all the other developments in there have been approved and will keep in context witht the existing architecture and will be low like the warehoues and be for artists and then be markets as condos.

The View has been approved to start construction, just waiting for them to get started. Also "the independent", I'll be honest and this is a first I have never heard of it. Can you give me some more info. Great to have you in Lafayette in the cities next great neighborhood on the comeback trail.

Also people I'am pleased to announce that I will be submitting a resume to the JC Planning Dept. I was asked to by the head. I think I will get the job so wish me luck.

pianoman11686

August 24th, 2006, 03:10 AM

Good luck! I sincerely hope you can channel your enthusiasm for Jersey City into something really productive, such as a position at the Planning Dept. If you don't mind my asking: will this be a part-time job in conjunction with school, or will you be full-time?

macmini

August 24th, 2006, 12:49 PM

Also people I'am pleased to announce that I will be submitting a resume to the JC Planning Dept. I was asked to by the head. I think I will get the job so wish me luck.

I have my fingers crossed JCMAN!!!! But I doubt I have to if the head of the department asked you to submit your resume. :cool:

tbal

August 24th, 2006, 02:15 PM

Tbal, 111 First is getting torn down to make way for a tower about 30 stories that will fit into the district. They will take the bricks and put the them back to use it as the base. It will have a caberet theatre and gallery and restauraunt space. That district will always have a a storng art presense. There will be like 3 towers in the whole distirct because all the other developments in there have been approved and will keep in context witht the existing architecture and will be low like the warehoues and be for artists and then be markets as condos.

Two questions:
1. Are you sure that Goldman is still obligated to comply with the PAD restrictions since the PAD no longer exists? (btw - the tallest warehouse in the former PAD is the Morgan Street Warehouse, which is 8 stories and adjacent to 111 First)

2. What happened to the 40-60 story tower that Goldman wanted to build at 111 First?

JCMAN320

August 24th, 2006, 02:53 PM

Thx guys I appreciate the support. I have to make a resume with my counsuler and professors and submit it and hopefully get the job. Right now it likes like just an internship, but who knows where it can lead. The whole dept. up there is a blast they all love the city and espcially the head, Bob Cotter. He actually joked and said "Hey I'm retiring in a few years, you want my job?" lol. Very nice guy awesome guy to work for and his passion for this great city and where its going is only matched by mine.

With 111 First, no he doesn't have to but there are rumors that he is going to scale back the tower to like 40 or something close and the architect being sought is David Childs. The whole district will be full of artists, sculpture gardens, theatres, galleries and restaurants so not to worry. The big problem many people had was the height and the fact that it got stripped of its historic status. In fact 111 is the only building affected by the changes because all the other buildings have been scheduled for renovation and new projects as well all have to be done to the historic guidelines because they were approved before the new amendments. Soo 11 is really the only one affected

People also, the reason I was there to look over plans for 3 new projects going in the historic Downtown section that are really gonna be great for the area that I will send into JC Vibe.com to get posted in the building projects section.

I also got a got a sneak peak of a building called the Metropitan that could get built soon and is already approved for where the Pep Boys is Downtown and start the demoltion of that ugly parking lot mall and people trust me this tower will make the Goldman Sachs Tower blush. It is actually looks taller than it so we can be talking a building btwn 800-900ft in height!!!!!! I will post a photo I snapped of the rendering tonight after 9:00pm tonite so keep your eyes pealed. :)

Dagrecco82

August 24th, 2006, 04:29 PM

Can't Wait!

OmegaNYC

August 24th, 2006, 04:41 PM

That's so cool JCMAN! I'm proud of you. JCMAN for Mayor! :D

steveikin

August 24th, 2006, 11:00 PM

Goodluck.

MrWolf

August 24th, 2006, 11:36 PM

JCMAN - Good luck on the new opportunity! I have been following this thread for some time and also think JC is poised for big things. Quick question on Montgomery Gardens: You previously mentioned that the complex may be on the chopping block. Have you heard anything specific concerning this or anything else that may be going on in the general neiborhood (aside from the Beacon which will undoubtedly have a significant impact in revitalizing the area).

tbal

August 25th, 2006, 12:01 AM

Thanks for the great news JCMAN320!

Coincidentally, I noticed underground utilities work going on all along the western side of the Pep Boys property, all along the perimeter of the parking lot, on Sunday. I don't know if this is preliminary site prep work for the project you're talking about, but tons of earth had been excavated for whatever they were doing there...

z22

August 25th, 2006, 01:15 AM

JCMAN: Good luck for the opportunity. It will be great to have a job that you really love.

tbal: Here are some facts about 111 First from Emporis (http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=275040):

- A preliminary agreement with the city will permit the owner to demolish the building on condition the facade be reconstructed using the existing brick.
- The new tower will be limited to 550 feet in height plus the height of the existing building, for a total of approximately 600 feet.
- The proposed size witll be limited to 710 residential units and 900,000 square feet.
- Architects David Childs or Rem Koolhaas are being proposed as designers.
- The Old Lorillard Building at 111 First Street, now an artists' center, is being considered for redevelopment as of summer 2006.
- Demolition work began on August 21, 2006.

JCMAN320

August 25th, 2006, 01:26 AM

Wow guys the support is amazing thank you. Unfortunately I have to get a new memeory disk reader for my digi cam tomorrow so the earliest I can post it is tomorrow night sorry guys.

Wolf, yes Montgomery Gardens will get knocked down. I do not know what it will be replaced with possibly those new low-mid income homes, but I think being right next to the Beacon, it might be something different like luxury midrises or something not sure, but do know they will be torn down. Umm other than the fact that the Armory was renovated and has become a catalist for more art exposes, big city highschool events, etc... just in general like a giant glorious community center. The Block Drug building on Mill Rd. right across the way from the Med Center will become all of Hudson County's new offices and departments. Buildings in that area are going refubishment as property values of gone up since the Beacon was started.

Also the street scape along Bergen Ave is getting a face lift from Montgomery St. to Sip Ave at JSQ. I also think JSQ in general getting back on it's feet will help even with the Hardwood Towers. Many yuppies live in the atTractive Lincoln Park neighborhood. I think all that in general will be a big help.

With regards to Pep Boys I have not seen anything there lately I haven't been by there in a while. If you are talking about across the street is the New Westin Hotel if you that mean. If not let me know.

brunfuss

August 25th, 2006, 03:48 AM

just looked at good ole Emporis, apparently all 3 Residences at Liberty National are now under construction, 111 First st. is also listed as under construction.

what are the chances Harborside 7 ever starts moving?

can't wait to see those photos of the Metropitan (metropolitan?) by the way

TimmyG

August 25th, 2006, 09:28 AM

what are the chances Harborside 7 ever starts moving?

I think the chances are slim. I haven't heard any news about it for a long time. If it does get built, it will probably end up totally redesigned.

tbal

August 25th, 2006, 10:16 AM

I notified a friend at emporis about the construction of the Residences at Liberty National. There are pics of the construction posted on my photobucket.com site if you are interested (I posted a link several pages back in this forum). They are being built at the Northeast edge of the golf course, which opened in late June. If you'd like me to post them here, can someone please tell me how to do so?

Thanks.

injcsince81

August 25th, 2006, 12:02 PM

I don't know how you guys are defining "under construction" regarding the Residences at Liberty National (www.appliedco.com (http://www.appliedco.com)). There is a huge pit and a huge wall where the 2 of the 3 buildings will be standing - Liberty National keeps the golf carts and other equipment there. Other than that the pit seems idle.

The site seems to be prepped for the start of construction, but to me "construction" means at least driving in the piles, and that has not happened yet.

They are very actively prepping the site for the Liberty National clubhouse, though - new bulkhead and all. The clubhouse's opening is scheduled for 2008.

Any new info will be appreciated.

JCMAN320

August 25th, 2006, 03:22 PM

I think Harborside 7 will get built but get redesigned because the office boom is slowly starting. I mean 50 Hudson and Harborside 4 have already been approved for construction just waiting to start once the office market rises. Harborside 8 & 9 might become residential or still be office yet not sure yet.

Here is some news:

$32M in bonding for city projects

Wednesday, August 23, 2006
By PATRICK VILLANOVA
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City City Council has approved the sale of $32 million in bonds, part of which will fund ongoing construction of a new West District police precinct, a public safety communications headquarters, and a new firehouse.

The new West District precinct on Communipaw and Monticello avenues is the first police facility to be built since the South District precinct was built in 1955.

Police Director Samuel Jefferson said the new $6 million precinct will take roughly two years to complete and will be equipped with up-to-date security, including metal detectors and bulletproof vestibules.

A new communications building, to be located on Bishop Street, will coordinate communications for police, fire and emergency services, Jefferson added.

The city received an $11 million federal grant to pay for the communications equipment, he said. The city will match that amount, earmarking $11 million of the $32 million bond sale to building and outfitting the facility, Jefferson said.

"This was a long time coming that we needed a communication center, not just for the Police Department, also so we can work in conjunction with each other," Jefferson said.

Roughly $2 million of the bond sale will go toward the ongoing construction of a new Rescue 1 Fire Department building, he said.

Although almost half of the bonds will be used to improve police and fire operations, roughly $7 million will go to the reconstruction and improvement of several public parks and fields.

These projects include construction of a pier and sea wall in J. Owen Grundy Park ($2 million) and a new swimming pool in Ercel Webb Park ($4 million).

The bonds also will fund the $3.8 million rehabilitation of the Jersey City Main Library, as well as provide $1 million for renovations at the Five Corners, Greenville and Miller branches.

An estimated $250,000 will be used for the acquisition of new traffic signals and equipment for the Division of Traffic Engineering and Transportation.

In addition, $2.5 million will pay for the resurfacing, widening and construction of various public streets, as well as a city-wide environmental cleanup.

The Division of Information Services will receive new software and computer equipment, costing $2 million, while the Incinerator Authority will receive $1.2 million to purchase new vehicles, including several trucks, two street sweepers and an excavator, officials said.

JCMAN320

August 25th, 2006, 10:39 PM

Guys the damm photo won't load as an attachment. I do the browse, than click the file as jpeg, i click upload and then then it says opening page for a while then it says done but the window is blank it doesn't even tell me if it was uploaded or not just a blank white window. Can some one help me out. :( I really wanna share this great building with everyone.

LocoAko

August 25th, 2006, 10:53 PM

Did you try uploading it at www.imageshack.us and then posting the URL they give you (the bottom one?)

Do you consider the Lincoln Park area attractive? I don't. Walking home from Lincoln Park up Communipaw it just looks absolutely filthy. Of course, Gifford and Bentley are of course gorgoues areas. Those houses are beautiful. But then other parts are :eek:

I wish they would build more on the Western side of JC. :rolleyes: I know they have the new project for NJCU but I really want to see some business and skyscrapers. I mean, they haven't even cleaned up the burned down factory on 440! It seems progress is pretty slow with the project and everything is concentrated downtown. Obviously it will be favored becuase of it's location relative to Manhattan, but eh.

Also, I'm curious what you think about the ethics of tearing down the projects. I obviously think it woudl be good to see them go, but I rememebr my history teacher talking about how messed up it is because they are kicking these poor people out with no where to go, and all these rich people who don't belong in JC, who didn't grow up with the culture, are moving in, and it is becoming other people's city. What do you think?

JCMAN320

August 25th, 2006, 11:51 PM

With Lincoln Park I don't mean Communipaw Ave I mean Bently Ave, Harrison Ave, Gifford Ave, Belmont, Kensington, Fairview, Farimont, Guatier Ave,n Highland Ave, etc.. have many beautiful turn of the century mansions. The surrounding area is coming up though I see more and more office workers walking home from JSQ past SPC then ever before. JSQ with Hudson County Community College helping and once the Hardwood Towers arer built, man JSQ will take off a few with more skyscrapers where there are low-rise commecial buildings or empty lots. The Beacon and also the Heights, which is very nice middle class to begin with, is seeing gentrification as well and new condo development and reburshing of homes. I mean hell look at Lafayette is even turning around of all places. So Loco I think the money has spread finally up the Palisades and is starting in every area of the city, which was our late Mayor Glenn Cunningham's vision for the city and it is finally happening. We even have a new park master planner that from now to 2016 will build 30 new parks on top of our 92 we currently have.

Also LocoAko our area has just started to develop and I mean literally we are the last area of the city with so much open land of warehouses and factories that it just makes sense for all the development to come our way. Look at Culver Ave. with the 7 story The Station at Westside. Also that Residencies at Westside Station development which is pretty big. NJCU will be the big thing that will spur it along. Also where Mac's Video is fenced in, will be another condo building atleast 10 stories. Skyscrapers you're not going to see for a while and the only place they will be built is the Honywell site. Also we are extremely residential I'm not sure we are zoned for 20-40 story highrises. The development has come to the Westside, like I said we are in our infant stages of redevelopment. By the way the new campus will breakground this fall and it will be part of the neighborhood with stores, parks, residences, academic buildings, a new fieldhouse, I mean hell they are extending the street grid right through it to 440. We will get and white collar workers, it is just gonna take a few years, but the important thing is that it is happening. The old tiny factory will get torn down by winter it needs enviormental clean up by DEP.

In regards to the projects, I agree with you, but they are not throwing these people out. They rebuild them with attractive townhomes that the people own and take care off and they aren't fenced in and those developments again are incorporated into the street grid. They put them in temporary housing till they are built, but if you have a criminal record or had one when you lived in the projects, you can't move back because they are weeding them out and arresting them. So the rich are not replacing public housing, public housing is being improved.

I will try the Imageshack website Loco thx alot brother. :) We def gotta meet up sometime considering you are only 5 blocks away lol.

Damm Imageshack does the same thing c'mon what am I doing wrong. Ugh!!!

srg1

August 26th, 2006, 12:53 AM

Imageshack has a 1.5 meg limit per photo. Is that the problem?

tbal

August 26th, 2006, 01:35 AM

JCMAN320 - try photobucket.com...that's where I put all my pics.

tbal

August 26th, 2006, 01:55 AM

A pic of the the site of The Hudson (126-142 Morgan Street) as of Sunday morning:
http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/?action=view&current=Hudson8.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch2

A pic of the site I took Friday afternoon:
http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/?action=view&current=Hudson8-1.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch6

Looking down Warren Street at Columbus Plaza Tower I (the building on the right is part of The Hudson - it will be a mid-rise theater after renovation, and the pics above are from the other side of that building; the building on the left is the Morgan Industrial Center, 150 Warren Street):
http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/?action=view&current=Columbus8.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch2

The Athena Tower as of Friday afternoon (to the left in the pic is 110 First Street, currently being used as storage space for Athena-related construction equipment/materials):
http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/?action=view&current=Athena8.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1

Grove Point (low- and mid- rise sections) as of Friday afternoon:
http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/?action=view&current=Grove8.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch3

Enjoy the pics!

tbal

August 26th, 2006, 02:18 AM

To give people a better idea of construction density in Downtown JC, here is a pic I took with Columbus Plaza on the left, Grove Point in the background, and The Hudson is about a block to the right:
http://s58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/?action=view&current=Grove8-1.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1

JCMAN320

August 26th, 2006, 02:33 AM

There she is!!! My original estimates were off it might be the same size as the Goldman Sach's Building

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b17/JCman320/DSCN0886.jpg

brunfuss

August 26th, 2006, 03:35 AM

the Metropolitan is a real beauty. you say this has already been approved?

OmegaNYC

August 26th, 2006, 04:11 AM

she is a BEAUTY!!!!!!! :D That building should be at least 850 feet tall.

LocoAko

August 26th, 2006, 09:34 AM

That building is beautiful!!! From the looks of that if I'm seeing it right, it should be right near my school? (obviously I'll be gone by the time it's done, but...) :eek:

I know the development here is goign to be a big improvement. I'm just impatient and unrealistic. ;) I didn't know they were actually extending the street grid to 440. That would be nice to have easy street access to instead of cutting across that back alley behind Home Depot. I'm kind of excited because as far as I can tell from the blue prints and stuff on the website, the core of it is literally going to just be down the block from me, so I'll be enveloped. Even though it should be a college campus it will still be great to have a nice, parksy sort of feel to it. They are already finishing up a parking lot there. It's great that they're making use of this space. Even if where Mac's Video is is only 10 stories that will still be a cool building to have there.

I know it's not a skyscraper, but I figure since you live in the are and can probably see it (I know this is visible from 440 and I can see it from my house) do you like the new NJCU building? I've been watching it go up since I take classes at NJCU and it looks alright but I think it looks kind of tacky.

http://www.schooldesigns.com/catalog/images/191ArtsScienceBuildingViewNE.jpg

I was talking with someone at my church and discussing whether or not we think the Beacon will do well. I think it will, but it is at this point such a morbid building to look at. I mean there was a morgue in there, and the outside isn't doing so well, but I still think people will go for it. I just can't imagine Medical Center being condos...

I guess I just wish this had all started earlier so I wouldn't be so old by the time this was all done to enjoy. :)

Zoe

August 26th, 2006, 10:13 AM

Great looking building! Glad to hear they are moving forward with getting rid of that strip mall. It made no sense to had a strip mall and parking lot at a location that the lightrail stops at.

G_Money

August 26th, 2006, 02:43 PM

FiveNines

August 26th, 2006, 06:03 PM

walking down newark ave every day towards grove path you can see the all the condo towers going up, and lately as they are getting taller and towards the top off points i began to wonder, is there really a demand for all these condos. Sure they maybe 60,70,80% sold but how many of these are investors just trying to flip and thus artificially creating a market? I dont want to start a housing bubble war, just something I have been thinking on my way to path every morning. The next year and a half should be interesting to see how this plays out.

It's nice to see the boom in downtown but from someone that lives blocks away from all this construction, I can tell you it's extrememly disruptive right now. I'm one of the few that actually commutes out to Jersey in the morning. I'm either detoured or completely stopped at least four times just to get to Newport Mall. I'm detoured around 77 Hudson (I live at 33 Hudson), the corner of Greene and Montgomery, around the Trump building on Washington St. and then finally around the A on Washington Street. All of these construction projects utilize public streets and in most cases completely shut down the street right in front of the buildings. It's too much construction going on all at once. Plus, add in the fact that many of the new streetlights are not operational yet and it makes for an interesting commute.

Can't wait to actually get over to the Westside.

z22

August 26th, 2006, 06:38 PM

After the projects in that area are completed, the skyline would look like this. That will be cool.

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2263&stc=1&d=1156628185

JCMAN320

August 26th, 2006, 07:16 PM

That will look so bad ass. NWK, LIC and BKLYN you cannot even keep up.

OmegaNYC

August 26th, 2006, 07:28 PM

JC just needs some more buildings to fill in some gaps. Also a 1,000 tall building, would be amazing. :)

JCMAN320

August 26th, 2006, 07:51 PM

A 1,000 fter is not out of the relm of possiblity. The Metropolitan is atleast 850ft. tall so its close. I just can't get over how are skyline will look once all these projects are done. I mean my god these buildings are really beautiful. Also our streetscapes Downtown will be improved by filling in the gaps of big lots that are waitng to be built on and turn it into a viable neighborhood. Historic Downtown is already great and festive but once our Waterfront has these buildings, we will no longer be a side bar to an NYC trip espcially with us having 6 hotels alone in Downtown once Westin and the Liberty Harbor North Hotel is done. We will have the Hyatt, Candlewood, Doubletree, Marriot, Westin and a Sheraton at LIberty Harbor. Also when the Towers at JSQ are built will have a hotel as well so we will 2 hotels are JSQ. Also our colleges here being so big and imporant and expanding....hmm I can see it now. I love the way JC is developing!!!! I can't wait to submit my resume and hopefully land this internship!!!!!!!!

Great photoshop by the way Z22 and Brunfuss it coming up for approval but from what I hear its going to get approved.

Jersey City all the way!!!!!!!!!

sfenn1117

August 26th, 2006, 09:03 PM

The Metropolitan does look fantastic. I see some bickering going on in this thread; As a NYer I am glad to see what Jersey City is doing. Aside from a few projects, the residential architecture is on the same banal lines as what's going up in NYC (especially Trump). I think it's great to have all this housing so close to the city though....even though it's not within our boundaries it cannot be argued as a bad thing.

The same goes for White Plains and New Rochelle. Dense development near transit hubs, meaning more mass transit taken into Manhattan. Good stuff.

TimmyG

August 27th, 2006, 11:19 AM

Planning Board approves three projects

171 new residential units in total; 45 for artists
Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter staff writer 08/25/2006

The Jersey City Planning Board at their Tuesday meeting approved plans for three residential projects.

The largest is Essex Commons, a seven-story, 70-unit apartment building at 66 Essex St. with 65 parking spaces. Fourteen of the units will be affordable housing.

The second is the Crescent Court Condominiums, a four-story 56-unit condo complex on First and Second streets with 56 parking spaces. It will replace a warehouse currently on the property.

The third is the rehabilitation of an old four-story warehouse on 170 Lafayette St. that will produce 45 work/live units for artists, with 50 parking spaces. The project will be known as Fresh Pond. It is located next to the old Whitlock Cordage complex, where 330 mixed-income townhouses are currently being built and will be known as Whitlock Mills.

Also, the Planning Board was supposed to consider amendments to the Morris Canal Redevelopment Plan, which governs development in the Bergen-Lafayette area of the city, but they decided to table any decision until their next meeting on Sept. 5.

According to City Planner Robert Cotter, the decision was postponed at the request of City Councilwoman Viola Richardson. There were concerns from her constituents over the amendments that would place the old Assumption/All Saints school on Whiton Street and the nearby Assumption/All Saints church's parking lot on Pacific Avenue in a redevelopment plan without first informing the community.

Essex Commons

The Essex Commons project will be developed by Redwood Homes of Mountainside, N.J.

The current plan calls for a seven-story apartment building with two adjoining three-story townhomes and three adjoining two-story townhouses. The building will face Essex, Greene and Morris Streets.

The project dates back to 1997 when the preliminary or initial site plan for the project was approved, only to be amended in 2003.

The changes to the current plan include an "Essex Commons" identification sign placed on the Greene Street side; a decorative fence to be added in front of the townhouses on Morris Street, and four windows are to be eliminated from the fifth and sixth floors of the seven-story building, with the window openings to be filled in by brick.

Of the 70 dwelling units, 15 will be one-bedroom apartments, 45 will be two-bedroom, and 10 will be three-bedroom.

Also, 14 units, or 20 percent ofa the overall units are to be set aside as affordable housing as required under the Colgate Redevelopment Plan.

The project's attorney, Ronald Shaljian, said there are ongoing discussions with city officials to allow the developer to get out of the affordable housing obligation since it will create a "severe economic issue." Namely, the developer would not be able to sell the affordable units at market-rate prices.

But Cotter said that until there are changes in the redevelopment plan, the 14 affordable housing units "have to be provided as affordable" or "remain vacant" rather than be sold as market rate units.

The board approved the project, emphasizing that the affordable units remain part of it.
Crescent Court
The Crescent Court project calls for the demolition of a warehouse building on the site, to be replaced with a new building with three stories of residential over an indoor parking area.

There will be 54 condos - 15 one-bedroom and 39 two-bedroom. Also proposed are 54 standard parking spaces and two handicap spaces. Also, there will be one loading dock space.

The land to be developed is currently owned by JVJ Enterprises LLC, based at 419 Third St. The developers are the Matzel and Mumford Organization of Hazlet, NJ, a division of K. Hovnanian Homes.

The Planning Board unanimously approved the preliminary and final site plans.
Fresh Pond
The Fresh Pond project had been approved by the Planning Board back in March 2003 as 43 live work/live lofts and 5,000 square feet of commercial workshop space. However, the commercial space is being eliminated in order to add two more work/live units.

The project is located in the Morris Canal Redevelopment Area, which calls for the rehabilitation of abandoned buildings such as 170 Lafayette St. and establishing artists' work/live units.

At the meeting, Bergen-Lafayette resident Dania Caballero requested that the developers, Fresh Pond LLC, be cognizant of traffic issues that would come about as the result of the project since it is located near the larger Whitlock Cordage project. She asked for a traffic study.

Conditions were imposed on the developer to include coordinating its project development with the Whitlock Mills owners.

No date has been set on when the Fresh Pond will start construction.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.

©The Hudson Reporter 2006

macmini

August 27th, 2006, 01:58 PM

Investment into urban areas such as Jersey City help raise Toll Brothers' earnings in the Northeast

The up-and-down housing market Hoboken developments, others in northeast help ease Toll Brothers' sag in earnings

By Tom Jennemann - The Hudson Reporter - 08/27/2006

ON THE WATERFRONT – Toll Brothers is currently building an 832-unit project at the site of a former Maxwell House Coffee plant on the central waterfront in Hoboken. The first building in the complex is scheduled to open later this year or early next year.
Toll Brothers, Inc., a massive national real estate development firm based in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. with major development interests in Hudson County, reported Tuesday that its third-quarter profits fell 19 percent because of the weakening national housing market.

The company also slashed its earnings estimate for the full year, a sign that the market may not stabilize in the immediate future.

But one of the bright spots in the report was that Toll Brothers' revenues in the Northeast increased, partially because of the company's reinvestment into urban areas such as Hoboken and Jersey City.

Toll Brothers reported fiscal third quarter profits of $174.6 million, or $1.07 per share, compared with $215.5 million, or $1.27 per share, in the previous third quarter.

In a statement, Robert I. Toll, chairman and chief executive officer, said that fewer investors are flipping properties for a quick profit, and homes, especially luxury ones, are lingering on the market longer.

"The continuing malaise in the housing market, we believe, is the result of an oversupply of inventory and a decline in confidence," Toll explained. "The speculative buyers of 2004 and 2005 are now sellers. Builders that built speculative homes are trying to move them by offering large incentives and discounts, and some anxious buyers are canceling contracts for homes already being built."

Toll added, "This overhang in supply and the aggressive discounting of many builders is undermining consumer confidence and keeping buyers on the sidelines as they continue to worry about the direction of home prices."

He added that the current environment has led the company to reduce its land position. In total, Toll Brothers now owns or controls approximately 82,900 lots, compared to approximately 91,200 at the end of the second quarter.

"We continue to re-evaluate the lots in our approval pipeline and to renegotiate or drop those options that we believe are no longer attractive," Toll said.

Toll in Hoboken

In nine months prior to July 31, 2006, Toll Brothers sold 1,070 units in the northeast, as compared to only 793 for the same period in 2005.

Revenue in the northeast was $698 million for the first nine months of 2006 compared to only $447 million for the first nine months of 2005.

Beginning in 2003, the company made a significant investment in urban properties in Hoboken, Jersey City Philadelphia, Chicago, and Providence, R.I. Before that, it had focused on suburban markets.

Their holdings in Hoboken include: the 525-unit Hudson Tea building on the northern waterfront, and the adjoining 758-unit mixed-use expansion at the Hoboken Cove.

They also bought the 832-unit residential "Maxwell Place" development at the former Maxwell House factory on the central waterfront. They purchased most of the Manhattan Building Company and its projects, which include the 324-unit Sky Club on Marshall Drive, and the 230-unit 700 Grove St. project just over the Jersey City border.

In fact, Toll Brothers has established a City Living division, which has its office in Hoboken, to market and sell the Toll Brothers' condos in and around Hudson County

JCMAN320

August 27th, 2006, 04:08 PM

im confuesed Essex Commons is alread completed. Unless they are talking about making changes to the current building, they are way late. lol. Everything else I can't wait to get built, guess that means I'm going back to 30 Montgomery St. to the city Planning Dept to get more info.

JCMAN320

August 27th, 2006, 05:03 PM

Mack-Cali rents Jersey City site

AUG. 23 3:07 P.M. ET Mack-Cali Realty Corp., a real estate investment trust that focuses on office and commercial buildings in the Northeast, on Wednesday said it leased 228,193 square feet at Harborside Financial Center Plaza 1 on the Jersey City waterfront to an international bank.

Financial terms were not disclosed and lease agreements prohibit identifying the lessee, a company spokeswoman said.

The lease term is for 10 years and six months. It includes a renewal for 90,000 square feet and an expansion of 138,193 feet.

JCMAN320

August 27th, 2006, 08:27 PM

Z22 I'm loving the way our skyline will be lookin a few years. The style of architecture in Jersey City has come along way since those early buildings in Newport. :)

http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2263&stc=1&d=1156628185

tone99loc

August 27th, 2006, 10:10 PM

I think the Metropolitan looks beautiful - Let's get it built!

investordude

August 28th, 2006, 09:46 PM

I noticed that Emporis now lists the "Residences at Liberty National" 3 high rises as under construction, which it didn't a few weeks ago. Is this a data entry error or are they really going up, and all under construction?

Also, JCMan, I've been AWOL from the thread, but let me now add my best wishes in your job search.

JCMAN320

August 28th, 2006, 09:51 PM

Thx investor, umm I'm not sure I thought the residences were u/c maybe I'm wrong.

tbal

August 29th, 2006, 12:45 AM

I listed them as u/c about a month and a half ago when I went to the southern border of Liberty State Park and noticed tons of equipment and earth-moving going on. I heard from someone that the construction currently taking place near the northeast corner of the Liberty National Golf Course might be for a club house or other feature of the golf course. Please let me know if you have any info from a legitimate source claiming this, otherwise I will keep them listed as u/c at emporis.

I plan on getting some new photos in two weeks (no vertical construction had begun between my last few visits to the site, so it appears that the project is very slowly progressing).

injcsince81

August 29th, 2006, 10:39 AM

I heard from someone that the construction currently taking place near the northeast corner of the Liberty National Golf Course might be for a club house or other feature of the golf course.

I said that earlier in this thread, based on www.libertynationalgc.com (http://www.libertynationalgc.com) website info which gives the clubhouse completion date as 2008.

No firm info is available on the towers construction at www.appliedco.com (http://www.appliedco.com).

For Paul Fireman (owner of Liberty National), building a permanent clubhouse is a priority, because he needs to attract millionaire members and he does not want them to spend too much time in a temporary, trailer-based clubhouse, no matter how luxurious.

Having said that, one of the towers is planned right next to the clubhouse, and hopefully the ongoing site prep work will result in the first tower going up soon.

jcwestsider

August 29th, 2006, 01:02 PM

Anybody know anything about the following...

http://www.centexhomes.com/New-Jersey/N46288.asp

Stuff is popping up all over the place.

Lafayette

August 29th, 2006, 01:28 PM

I am glad to see all this new construction going on all over JC, but one thing that concerns me is the fact that if any of this new construction is seeking Green Building certification or if Jersey City is at least encouraging this type of development. I dont think this is happening, so we'll end up with high maintenance energy guzzling buildings. I know for a fact that NYC is encouraging Green Building certification on many commercial and residential buildings. Does anyone kow if JC is doing something similar? In order to keep the city competitive we need to see long term.....any thoughts on this?

TimmyG

August 29th, 2006, 02:04 PM

Green certified buildings might be nice, but I don't think the future of Jersey City will depend on them. If energy prices rise more, developers will probably make buildings more efficient to make them more attractive to buyers.

JCMAN320

August 29th, 2006, 05:14 PM

macmini

August 29th, 2006, 05:48 PM

I don't know if The Schroeder Lofts are certified green but they are green friendly.

GREEN WHENEVER POSSIBLE
We believe it is no longer enough to build interesting buildings; our commitment goes much further than that. The community that Schroeder Loft residents will become a part of is as committed to sustainable, renewable and environmentally sound living as we are.

http://www.schroederlofts.com/building.htm

JCMAN320

August 29th, 2006, 07:02 PM

2 Provost Square is another new artist building is already under construction, they are pile drving and tearing up the site. The white building in the fore ground is going to be incorporated. The building will have gallery space, sculpture garden, restaurant, and theatre.

2 Provost Square
http://www.jerseycityvibe.com/images/zoom/GRCPCB/hudson_rendering.jpg

FiveNines

August 29th, 2006, 08:15 PM

Yes they are encourging green buildings. The Goldman Sachs Building is a green building. I don't know what buildings are green but I know the city asks for it.

This development will be on Kennedy Blvd. on a current empty lot near the Bayonne JC border. I've been waiting for something to get built there. I love that my section of the city is experiencing gowth.

I spoke with the field manager over at the Westside Station development last night and he informed me that Centex has just recently bought both the Uhaul and trucking lots across Claremont. Groundbreaking is scheduled within 6-9 months with that phase of the development finishing sometime in 2008. They will build two more loft/condo buildings, in essence mirroring what's going up now and then contruct townhomes based on the Belleville plans.

That's going to be a pretty large development by 2008.

pianoman11686

August 29th, 2006, 08:22 PM

Is that 2 Provost Square a completely new development? Right now, the rendering makes it look like the tower on the right is getting renovated, and is receiving a 5-story addition (and a rather awkward-looking one, at that).

tbal

August 29th, 2006, 10:49 PM

The building on the left (the shorter one) is actually the one being renovated here. The "tower" on the right is now under construction between Morgan and Bay streets along Provost street. The 5-story building will be converted into a theater and retail/gallery space. The State of NJ has not yet given approval for the renovation of the existing building to go forward (as far as I know), but obviously construction has begun on the new tower, which will hold the residential units.

Btw - the official name of the building is "The Hudson". It is a Fields Development property. You can find more info at www.fieldsliving.com (http://www.fieldsliving.com)

phresident

August 30th, 2006, 11:19 AM

It's nice to see the boom in downtown but from someone that lives blocks away from all this construction, I can tell you it's extrememly disruptive right now. I'm one of the few that actually commutes out to Jersey in the morning. I'm either detoured or completely stopped at least four times just to get to Newport Mall. I'm detoured around 77 Hudson (I live at 33 Hudson), the corner of Greene and Montgomery, around the Trump building on Washington St. and then finally around the A on Washington Street. All of these construction projects utilize public streets and in most cases completely shut down the street right in front of the buildings. It's too much construction going on all at once. Plus, add in the fact that many of the new streetlights are not operational yet and it makes for an interesting commute.

I couldn't agree with you more about the traffic flow problems. As much as I am happy that developers are interested in building in Jersey City, the lack of planning and enforcement of zoning and construction rules is appalling. We have become a city where each individual developer calls the shots. They aren't even communicating with each other. They are essentially operating autonomously thus wreaking havic on public access and right of way; to say nothing of how they are likely creating "self contained" mini cities that will do little or nothing to create a neighborhood feel.

Development in Jersey City is like the wild west. And to make matters worse, in many cases it's like amateur hour. Watching Montgomery-Greene being build has actually been painful as they keep missing completion deadline after completion deadline. Montgomery-Greene alone has turned the supposedly two year Greene Street expansion project into a now three year still not completed project. To make matters worse, the city has now turned over part of the completed section of Greene Street to KHov simply because the builders said they had to have it to build their building.

But that's our city government. They are still so afraid that the developers are going to pick up their toys and go home that they just can't say no. No one seems to get that the fact that these developers can't pick up these parcels of land quick enough suggests that they aren't really going to be so quick and simply walk away if they don't get their way. But all they have to do is threaten to and the common good, as well as a few zoning laws, are simply history.

Before you all start jumping down my throat about how good all this development is for the city, let me state up front that I agree. What I don't agree with is the way the city has simply washed it hands of real planning and watching out for the public right of way. It sets a precedence and makes it harder to rein things in when they truly do get out of hand.

And lastly, don't buy into it when developers say they just have to take up half of every street around their project to get their buildings built. In Manhattan, builders are expected to construct their buildings within the confines of their actual property lines. In most cases, builders don't even get access to the sidewalks around their properties. This is considered public right of way and it must remain open. If a particular site wants to use public right of way, they pay a pretty penny for it.

As we can all see, it hasn't halted the building of massive projects in NYC. Yes it may take better coordination and planning on the part of the construction crews, and it might cost a bit more, but ultimately it is not the public or the city government's concern with the profit ratio of those who chose to build in our city. Certain things are simply the cost of doing business in high population areas - at least that's the way it's supposed to be.

So I'm all for Jersey City rising. I want to see this city grow and prosper just as much as the next guy. I'm simply concerned that the way it's happening now is rife with short term decision making that we are all going to pay for dearly in the end.

JCMAN320

August 30th, 2006, 01:26 PM

PH welcome and aboard and I couldn't agree with you more. The way they talk up half the street is rediculous and even with cops looking over the construction, they still are not enforced. There should be better management of the construction sites because it is a hell to drive or even walk around where all these projects are getting built. But I have to say it seems easier for them to get crews, trucks and equipment in and out of the site when they do it with closing off the street, yet you are correct and I agree that it is disruptive to the general public.

I don't think that all these developments going up are little cities. All of the new developments have street level retail and restaurants that make it so it's cohesive. Also they put the retail and restaruants along the major streets where there is already retail and stores. Also the planning dept. has been enforcing these developers demanding retail on the bottom and on which streets to put it on. I agree that they are very timid in standing up to developers, but like you said they are afraid the developer is going to say in the words of Eric Cartmen "Screw you guys; I'm going home!" I do know that the city has an overall plan, that I have seen with my own eyes on paper, and these developers are cohering to it. Many people see this buildings going up next to empty lots or parking lots and think is this it, but those lots empty/parking lots will also be built on wit another building with stores and restaurants on the bottom adding another piece to the puzzle. That's the thing along the Waterfront where there were rail yards and old warehouses and there is now nothing, is where these highrises are going up. It going to take a while before all the pieces come together and form a great Downtown and Waterfront. I mean proof of this is the new building and renovation around the Doubletree Hotel with the San Remo and Monaco I & II to take the parking lot away around the hotel and make it more street friendly with stores along Washington St. Also the fact the Metro Plaza Mall btwn Marin Blvd and Washington Blvd will be gone in a few years is proving that there will be more connection and more urban fabric added to the quilt that is Jersey City.

Overall I feel the city is moving in the right direction; however I feel that while these buildings are under construction, the enforcement of completion deadlines, street safety enforcement, planning of street and pedestrain flow during construction and lack of communitcaion btwn developers on projects is lacking and needs to be enforced more.

Phresdient welcome my friend and fellow Jersey Citian. :)

LocoAko

August 30th, 2006, 11:19 PM

Sorry if you mentioned it JCMAN, but that building on Kennedy near Bayonne... what intersection will that be near?

JCMAN320

August 31st, 2006, 12:04 AM

Loco the Cityhomes at Bayside will be on Kennedy Blvd. between Gates and Custer Avenues. Don't worry about asking twice, I do not mind giving the info at all.:)

TriHobo

August 31st, 2006, 09:21 AM

I think I remember someone asking for renderings of the Ellipse in Newport. I don;t think anyone ever posted these:

JCMAN320

August 31st, 2006, 01:03 PM

Trihobo, thank you so much. That was me looking for renderings. Where did you find those pics I've been looking all over!!

WOW THAT BUILDING IS BEAUTIFUL. NY EAT YOUR HEART OUT!!!!!:)

OmegaNYC

August 31st, 2006, 05:05 PM

lol, hey this is cool. JC is coming up!

kurokevin

August 31st, 2006, 05:44 PM

Wow JC! I'm very very jealous (although I'm a true beneficiary as I will be seeing this every day from my apt across the river). Perhaps, now that JC is getting serious about its building's architecture, a design war will brew: East Side vs. West Side. The winner? Everyone!

Am I correct in believe this is a hotel?

TriHobo

August 31st, 2006, 06:53 PM

Lefrak has said it is a "460-foot tower of steel and glass that will contain 325 apartments." They might have gotten all their land effectively for free, but with where building costs are at, I have a hard time imagining it will be a 'for-rent' apartment building and will more likely be 'for-sale' apartments.

I thought that Lefrak was speaking of 'apartments' as many New Yorker do in that we don't associate 'apartment' with 'rental and 'condominium' with 'for-sale' but in reading some past articles about upcoming Newport developments, they definitely differentiate between apartments and condos. It will be interesting to see if the Ellipse truly ends up as a 'rental' 'apartment' building.

FROM NJ BUSINESS MAGAZINE ARTICLE: "The Eclipse, a waterfront residential tower adjacent to the 14th Street pier that will consist of 325 apartments and stand 460 feet high; The Shore Club Condominium at Newport North Towers, which will be a 28-story condominium residence, with 229 units (it is the sister project of the Shore Club Condominiums, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, but is already 100 percent sold); and The Aqua, a 330-foot-high, 31-story apartment building with 363 units located on River Drive."

z22

September 1st, 2006, 01:04 AM

Looks like the Eclipse and the Metropolitan are designed by the same architect firm, right?

MrWolf

September 1st, 2006, 02:31 PM

Big time section in today's Star-Ledger extolling the virtues of Jersey City.

http://www.nj.com/onthetown/jerseycity/

It seems that all of the real estate activity of the recent years (and onward) is contributing to critical mass and propelling the city in its renassaince. It is a very exciting time for Jersey City and I am ecstatic to be moving here in the spring (I work in NYC, but chose to settle here over Manhattan).

JCMAN320

September 1st, 2006, 03:51 PM

Yes z22 they are both being done Arquitonica.

I read that article this morning and loved it very well done. I found out in the "Did you Know" section that Mcginley Square, just south of JSQ is one of the most diverse areas on the planet. Within an area of less than one square mile there are people from 92 different countries!!!!

Jersey City stand up!!!!!!*pounds chest*:)

OmegaNYC

September 1st, 2006, 04:34 PM

Spoon

September 1st, 2006, 05:52 PM

Contruction Update: 9/1/2006: It was a very cloudy and windy day. I walked from Newport to Liberty Harbor mostly along the waterfront area. Rode the lightrail back to Hoboken.

700 Grove by Toll Brothers looking from Hoboken. This building is ugly as sin in my opinion. Perfect example of a developer lining his pockets
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction005.jpg

Shore club under construction in Newport looking from Hoboken

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction006.jpg

Westin Hotel under contruction in Newport

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction009.jpg

A Condos in the foreground, development near grove street in the background. Columbus Tower?

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction012.jpg

Trump Plaza under construction in the foreground

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction016.jpg

new construction completed with new condtruction under development behind

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction018.jpg

Montgomery Greene near Exchange Place

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction020.jpg

77 Hudson Pile Driver with Goldman Sachs. That pile driver was echoing everywhere

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction022.jpg

77 Hudson Rendering

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction023.jpg

Gulls Cover in Liberty Harbor

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon/hobokenjerseycicontruction033.jpg

For more pictures from my walk go to this link. Some of Hoboken and a lot around the Paulus Hook area behind Goldman showing new low rise construction

http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n89/vidalsaspoon

OmegaNYC

September 1st, 2006, 05:58 PM

Thanks for the pics. Very nice! It is ugly as hell out there. Damn Ernesto. :mad:

tbal

September 2nd, 2006, 02:06 AM

Sorry I didn't do this sooner, but I finally figured out how to post these things! ;)

Here's a pic from last Friday of The Hudson (126-142 Morgan Street), about a block away from Columbus Plaza and Grove Pointe:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Hudson8-1.jpg

Also, in case you can't tell from the pic Spoon posted, The Westin JC Hotel is now going vertical (I think they began pouring concrete on Monday or Tuesday).

Here's a pic of the condo section of Grove Pointe (some damn nice brick work on that building!):
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Grove8.jpg

And a pic with Grove Pointe (the rental tower) in the background and Columbus Plaza on the left:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Grove8-1.jpg

LocoAko

September 2nd, 2006, 07:39 PM

I went to Hoboken today to play in the wind (woah!) and I got all excited because on the LightRail I took a whole bunch of videos and pictures of the construction, but looks like everyone is way ahead of me. Well, here are the videos and pictures I took of some randy stuff around Jersey City.

Here is Mac's Video. :o

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/533/1003010uz1.jpg

Here is a construction project on Culver Ave. I'm actually not sure what it is but I figured I'd take pictures.

http://img279.imageshack.us/img279/1472/1003012ot6.jpg

This picture I think just came out cool. Looks like it was made by a computer IMO.

http://img307.imageshack.us/img307/654/1003019zf6.jpg

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/339/1003021qf0.jpg

Waterfront of JC from Hoboken. Woot woot!

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/992/1003035pp9.jpg

A windsurfer in the Hudson River. (uh, ew?)

http://img307.imageshack.us/img307/2154/1003083ft1.jpg

I'm not sure what the project is but here is video from inside the Lightrail of the construction at Essex Street.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v215/hakobo2004/?action=view&current=ConstructionEssexST.flv

And here is video from past Harborside I believe?

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v215/hakobo2004/?action=view&current=ConstructionHarboside.flv

Sorry my brother's finger got in the way, lol.

JCMAN320

September 2nd, 2006, 07:40 PM

The Mac's Video is about 5 blocks from my house and that will be a condo. Also the project on Culver Ave. is the Station at Westside. It will be pretty nice. It is the beginning of the Westside Development overall. I can't wait!!! Also that pic along the waterfront you see those temporary gates, those are for the renovation of the Owen Grundy Park Pier which will occur after Labor Day. Nice photos; damm Ernesto!!

Just a footnote, Jersey City currently has 17 Million Square Feet of Class A office space in Downtown alone; if the new office boom coming turns out to be big with the construction of a new Goldman Sachs Tower at 50 Hudson and Newport will be building another office building and Harborside has approved construction a new 550ft office building called 4A. So we can expand that into the 20s soon. I hope the new office boom comes quick. :)

z22

September 3rd, 2006, 03:18 AM

JCMAN, I think you referred to Harborside Plaza 4. Plaza 4A was built for TD Waterhouse.

Jersey City has a momentum now on coming up with new awesome buildings. I hate to see that they are planning to build bulky and awkward looking buildings in the Harborside area. If they could redesign these 2 buildings a little bit better, JC would have much better skyline. I think it is time for them to hire an architect.

Harborside Plaza 4
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=149122

Harborside Plaza 7
http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=101574

Here is another version of Plaza 7:
http://www.gerardipress.com/sample4.html

TimmyG

September 3rd, 2006, 10:57 AM

The info on the Harborside buildings looks old. When something is built there, it will probably be with a different design.

TimmyG

September 3rd, 2006, 11:07 AM

New director at Redevelopment Agency

Wants development on abandoned city property; more visibility

Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter staff writer 09/02/2006

A city agency charged with redeveloping approximately 75 city properties has a relatively new director.

In April, Robert Antonicello, who used to be a private real estate broker, was named the new executive director of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency by Mayor Jerramiah Healy.

"What I do here is what I did on the other side the table when working in the private sector," said Antonicello in an interview last week. "I'll be reviewing all the city's redevelopment projects and find out where some of them have been stalled."

The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency is an autonomous agency created in 1949 to revitalize blighted and economically depressed areas in the city to promote economic growth.

The agency designates developers to build projects in these areas, most of which are city-owned property.

Antonicello had previously worked in the private sector for over 20 years as a real estate broker and consultant.

But he had worked for the city's Redevelopment Agency and Planning Department for a short time in the early 1980s after graduating from Rutgers. He has a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University's Newark campus in city planning and urban affairs, and a master's degree from New York University in real estate development.

Antonicello said Mayor Healy got to know him because he had dealt with him previously in the mid 1990s. That was when Healy, as the chief judge of the Jersey City Municipal Court, had to retain Antonicello's services in finding land for a new location for the court, which now sits on Summit Avenue.

"Healy wanted someone in place who understood the intricacies of how development was done and could extract the best value of properties," said Antonicello.

His plans for the agency

In an interview, Antonicello talked about his first 100 days and said he went through all the redevelopment projects the agency had been working upon. He said there at least 75 redevelopment projects under the agency's auspices.

"I am going over projects that are at least a year old and how asking why these projects are not going through," said Antonicello. "In the second 100 days, my plans will be to advance the ball farther down the field."

Among the major projects he will be keeping his eye on are the redevelopment of Journal Square near the PATH station, being done by the Harwood family, and the development of the old Hudson/Manhattan Powerhouse on Washington Boulevard.
Journal Square

Antonicello sees great things for Journal Square, particularly the area near the PATH Station, where there was a dilapidated set of buildings on the verge of collapse until they were torn down early this summer.

In March, the Harwood Family, who has maintained a business in Journal Square for the last 70 years, was designated by the Redevelopment Agency as developers of the area. They had acquired the buildings from the previous owners, the Tawil family. They plan to build two mixed-use high-rise towers, which will include apartments, retail stores and parking. The plans also include a hotel.

"Journal Square is a number one priority," said Antonicello. "The creation of a transit village is something I see can do great things for that part of the city."

The "transit village" is a concept that the state is promoting to encourage homes and businesses around public transit hubs, to reduce traffic and reliance on cars.

The Powerhouse

In July, Baltimore-based developer David Kordish was designated the developer of the Powerhouse, a large boxy building that once provided electricity for the massive Hudson Manhattan railroad (the precursor to the PATH system).

The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency was responsible for designating Kordish.

The Powerhouse lies in the Powerhouse Arts District, a redevelopment zone that runs from Washington Boulevard to Marin Boulevard.

Construction of the original Powerhouse building started in 1906 and was completed in 1908. It is a steel-framed 200,000-square-foot edifice with its 28-inch thick brick walls. But it only operated until 1929 and was abandoned for many years, although the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey still used it as a power station.

There have been efforts since 1999 by the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy to preserve the building. During that time, Kordish has been negotiating with the city to become the developer. Kordish developed the old Baltimore Power Plant into the ESPN Zone Restaurant and a Barnes and Noble bookstore on the waterfront.

"The Powerhouse is a priority," said Antonicello. "It will be unique. Five years from now, I see someone coming to the Powerhouse to go to the Barnes and Noble, and have a drink at a bar."

How it works

A redevelopment plan is a plan that provides for the reuse or redevelopment of property within a municipality. The Jersey City Planning Dept. designates an area in need of redevelopment then drafts a redevelopment plan.

Then the plan is introduced in front of the Planning Board for their consideration. If the plan is approved, then it goes to the City Council, which introduces the plan at a council meeting where it is read into the record. At the next council meeting, the council does a final vote to either approve or not approve the plan.

The JCRA designates a developer(s) for the redevelopment area.

Making it known

Antonicello said boosting the public image of the agency was needed to make its workings more "transparent" to the public.

Press releases were sent out in July by the agency regarding its board's approval of a developer for the Hudson/Manhattan Powerhouse and of the renovation of a historic home on city-owned property on Monticello Avenue.

The agency has placed signs on various properties across the city letting the public know that it was a project approved by the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. Antonicello also plans to have a website for the agency by the end of the year.

"The greatness of a city is providing for its residents that you build a great city," said Antonicello. "And that's what I want the public to know that the Redevelopment Agency is doing."

©The Hudson Reporter 2006

tbal

September 3rd, 2006, 11:42 PM

anyone have any news on the status of the Harwood towers in JSQ? I was there a week ago and saw nothing new...just the empty "hole" left from the demolition of the hotel.

JCMAN320

September 4th, 2006, 01:39 AM

Yes. The Harwood family is negotiating with the owners of the other buildings that are left to buy them and demolish them so he can get on with the construction. If an agreement is not reached but late September, the city will take the properties through eminent domain.

tbal

September 4th, 2006, 02:49 AM

I hope so...I think those towers would really be a huge step toward improving JSQ.

On one of the buildings left, however, there is a banner that brags "no demolition here - leases available"...I wonder what they tell people who inquire about leasing the space.

JCMAN320

September 4th, 2006, 03:35 PM

lol Tbal I've seen that one. I just chuckle to myself when I see it cause it will be demolished. The Harwood Towers are going to happen it's just neogtiating the property thats holding it up. Those two buildings are the only one with tenants; the other two are empty and boarded up. I can't wait.

TriHobo

September 5th, 2006, 10:34 AM

Homes With a View

By ANTOINETTE MARTIN

WHEN he was 10 years old and growing up in a cold-water flat in Jersey City (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/classifieds/realestate/locations/newjersey/?inline=nyt-geo), William Sinclair decided to buy the Empire State Building. Every day, he looked at it, lusted after it and became more determined to have it.
“I want to be on top of the world,” he told himself, “and that’s it.”

More than 65 years later, Mr. Sinclair, who is retired after running his own electronics manufacturing company, has finally grabbed hold of his glistening dream. He is not actually buying the skyline showpiece — but he is buying a superb skyline view. He will be able to look right across the Hudson River at the Empire State Building, day and night, from the living room of his condominium on the 26th floor at the top of the Hudson Tea Building in Hoboken.

The cost for Mr. Sinclair’s nonpareil panorama is $1.6 million.
“This is way better than what they got in Manhattan (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/classifieds/realestate/locations/newyork/newyorkcity/manhattan/?inline=nyt-geo),” he cackled while talking about his new place, currently being renovated, as the Tea Building is converted from rentals to condominiums. “All they got to look at over there is Jersey. And compared to what they pay, this is an incredible steal.”
That kind of thinking comes into play at every price point among home buyers seeking a view of the Manhattan skyline, say developers who are busy creating literally thousands of units with a view.

In Jersey City, Hoboken and “Gold Coast” towns like Edgewater, Weehawken and West New York, buildings with a vista, or at least a glimpse, are proliferating as if there were no tomorrow.

In one sense, there is not. When the western riverbank is built out, “that’s it,” as Mr. Sinclair would say — at least until developers turn their attention to the towns atop the Palisades.

At river level, many developers are even now compelled to focus on second-best sites, those that don’t offer views of icons like the Empire State, the Chrysler Building or the Statue of Liberty, and don’t include the George Washington Bridge or Verrazano-Narrows Bridge sparkling through the night, and might show off just a sliver of river and a more anonymous edifice or two.

This is good news for buyers who do care about cost, some developers are quick to point out.

“Maybe one view is a Picasso,” said Benjamin D. Jogodnik, who oversees project development in Hoboken and Jersey City for Toll Brothers, “but if you don’t have the resources to own a Picasso, or don’t care to, it’s now possible to get a perfectly good view for a price in the low $500,000’s.”

On a hard-hat tour of 700 Grove, his company’s 12-story building going up 10 blocks inland of the South Hoboken ferry terminal and PATH station, Mr. Jogodnik showed off several unfinished 11th-floor units, including a one-bedroom place priced at $519,990 with a dynamic view of downtown Jersey City and a modest view of downtown Manhattan.

Even on the same floor, prices vary widely, depending on space and the viewable vistas: a 1,400-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath unit with a glorious panoramic view stretching from Midtown to the Statue of Liberty is priced at $779,900. A 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath unit with a view across a landscaped courtyard and the streets of Hoboken to downtown Manhattan is priced at $659,990.

One floor below, the same designs cost $25,000 and $20,000 less, respectively.

So far, developers report the market for moderately priced units with views is much softer than that for high-priced units. Two-thirds of the apartments at the relatively moderately priced 700 Grove are sold after a year of marketing, while at Toll Brothers’ higher-priced Hudson Tea Building, all but a smattering of the converted units sold out rapidly.

At Maxwell Place, envisioned as the “crown jewel” of Hoboken condos, according to Mr. Jogodnik, the first of two buildings is now under construction by Toll in concert with Pinnacle Custom; its ultraelegant units with interiors by Michael Graves (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/g/michael_graves/index.html?inline=nyt-per) and the best available views of Manhattan, priced at $1 million and up, were 100 percent sold out while the shovels were still shiny.

Harrison T. LeFrak, managing director of the LeFrak Organization, which began building rental towers at its Newport development in Jersey City a quarter-century ago, suggested that the concept of moderately priced views is somewhat new in the Gold Coast marketplace.

As more and more buildings rise, and obscure one another’s sightlines to the city, things are evolving, Mr. LeFrak observed.

At Newport, LeFrak Organization is building the first of two 28-story towers for the Shore Club Condominiums project. The building is rising at the corner of River Drive and Newport Parkway, due east of the Holland Tunnel entrance, one block in from the river.

Right now, all floors above the fifth have straight-on views eastward to Lower Manhattan and north toward the George Washington Bridge. But numerous other Newport buildings present obstacles looking south.

All 220 apartments in the tower have been sold at prices ranging from $420,000 to $1.3 million, and about 90 of the units in the second tower, to be built just north of the first, have been sold too. The buildings, quadrilaterals whose sides are not parallel, will both feature large terraces of 60 square feet or more in each apartment, so that even those units without great window views, and those in the far back of the structure, capture a satisfying slice of the skyline.

Two years from now, however, the picture will change. LeFrak will begin building the Aqua, a 330-foot-high 31-story rental property, between the Shore Club and the river. Also, the builder announced last spring that it will build the Ellipse — a glass and steel elliptical tower with 325 apartments, to stand 460 feet tall, on a pier at the end of 14th Street, one block north of the second Shore Club building. LeFrak has eight other buildings north of the Shore Club in its plans.

The best strategy in a changing marketplace? Harry Kantor of the KOR Companies, which built the 19-story Montgomery Greene condo complex in Jersey City, said the right answer is always to buy high — the highest floor and the highest price you can afford.

“This is waterfront property — a diminishing commodity, increasingly rare,” Mr. Kantor said. “Those things that are rarest tend to appreciate more rapidly. From an investment and value point of view, there’s no question that you should go as high as you can.”

On the other hand, observes Christopher Winslow, who directs marketing for the Tarragon Corporation, many people simply cannot swallow spending an extra five figures to get a few more degrees of perspective.

At Hudson Park, Tarragon’s nearly complete high-rise in Edgewater, the price differential is about $10,000 per floor. A two-bedroom, three-bath unit on the ninth floor would be priced at $500,000 to $600,000, he said; on the 15th floor, the same unit would cost $60,000 more.

All units in the glass-and-steel building are priced at roughly what a comparable apartment in New York City (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/classifieds/realestate/locations/newyork/newyorkcity/manhattan/?inline=nyt-geo) would sell for, he said.

“In terms of the view of Manhattan, the higher you go, the more foreground you clear,” said Mr. Winslow, whose company posts video that pans across the panorama of actual views at onehudsonpark.com (http://onehudsonpark.com/), its Web site. “Up high, you lose a little river, but get more city. Lower down, the river appears wider.”

In the end, Mr. Winslow asserted, it comes down to personal taste. “What’s your lifestyle? Where do you need to be? That’s how you choose a view.”

JCMAN320

September 8th, 2006, 10:20 PM

Construction workers are getting bored in Downtown JC....

Friday, September 08, 2006

Nuts and bolts rain down from high-rise construction site

Heavy nuts and bolts rained down from a Downtown Jersey City construction site today, denting cars and smashing their windows, police said, and the construction company has posted a $1,000 reward for help finding the workers responsible.

According to reports, at 9:52 a.m., a parking lot attendant at Marin Boulevard and Steuben Street approached an officer saying cars in his lot had been damaged by heavy nuts and bolts he thought were thrown the nearby Grove Pointe building, which is under construction.

He told the officer he saw two men moving quickly on the high floors of the building and said he thought they threw the nuts and bolts, reports said. He also told police that Thursday morning he heard three loud “bangs” and didn’t think much about it. Later that day he heard another and saw a bolt lying on the ground, reports said.

Michaelangelo Conte

OmegaNYC

September 8th, 2006, 11:46 PM

Worker #1: "I'm bored....."

Worker #2: "Me too, it ain't nothing to do in Jersey City."

Worker #3: "You sure? This city is going through a major boom"

#1: "Yeah, So What! It is still Jersey City!"

#3: "But this city is home to some of the tallest buildings outside of Manhattan. Hell, some of the tallest in all of New Jersey."

#2: "Yeah, but still, it is not NYC"

#3: "So what, this city is going through a major economic revival. The Tri-State area is going to benifit from it. Besides, more towers are going up. That mean more jobs for us."

#1&2: "So what!"

#3: "Well..... Wanna throw nuts and bolts at cars. Knowing this can get us fired???"

#1&2: "Sure!"

JCMAN320

September 8th, 2006, 11:53 PM

Lol Omega that was pretty good bro. :)

OmegaNYC

September 9th, 2006, 12:12 AM

Lol Omega that was pretty good bro. :):p Heh, I knew that would cheer you up!

z22

September 9th, 2006, 01:30 AM

I thought Omega is the worker#3 :)

OmegaNYC

September 9th, 2006, 02:46 AM

Yeah, it would be my crazy self, to come up with an idea to throw nuts and bolts at cars. :D

TimmyG

September 11th, 2006, 09:42 PM

Not going along with the plan: Residents in city's Lafayette section concerned about redevelopment

Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter staff writer 09/10/2006

The Jersey City Planning Board at their Tuesday meeting heard much debate about amendments to the Morris Canal Redevelopment Plan before recommending it to the City Council for their approval.

The plan governs redevelopment of the one of the oldest areas in Jersey City - Bergen-Lafayette - and covers the area from Halladay Street to the Liberty State Park Light Rail Station.

Now that the Planning Board has voted to recommend the changes, the City Council will consider approving the plan with the amendments at a future meeting.

The amendments

While the entire Redevelopment plan pertains to an area of about three miles, the amendments in question focus on an area of about five or six blocks.

The proposed amendments would allow for the construction of residential buildings at the 125 Monitor St. site with increased height and density.

Also, the amendments create a new zone that will include the Assumption All Saints Church convent building at 343-349 Pacific Ave. and the All Saints School building on the corner of Lafayette and Whiton streets.

But residents have taken issue with the amendments, especially the changes to the All Saints buildings.

Residents are concerned about the role of Rev. Francis Schiller, who is both an attorney and a priest. On one hand, Schiller is affiliated with All Saints Church. But he also has been in talks with certain developers who are working in the area.

Residents believe he wants to be in the redevelopment zone to make it easier for the church property to be sold to developers. They feel that they were not sufficiently notified about the church property's possible inclusion in the plan.

After discussion on this matter on Tuesday, the All Saints portion of the amendments was left out of the Planning Board's recommendation to the City Council, pending further discussion.
Amend and not to amend

The debates over the amendments have spanned over a month, with the initial discussion taking place at the Aug. 8 Planning Board meeting.

At that meeting, some residents opposed including All Saints properties in the plan. Others wanted the community at large to be kept informed about the development rather than just a select few like the Morris Canal Coalition, a community group based in the Bergen-Lafayette section that has been pursuing area development through their subsidiary, the Morris Canal Development Area Community Development Corporation (MCRACDC).

Also the meeting, June Jones, founder of the Morris Canal Coalition, scolded Schiller, who claimed that he had met with the community regarding the inclusion of the All Saints properties in the plan. But some people said he had not met with them.

Jones also pointed out that she was a parishioner of Assumption All Saints and called for tabling of the amendments for the church until the community met on the matter.

Jones did not object to the amendments that called for increased height, several changes to density, and setback requirements on several lots on Monitor, Pine, Garrabrant, and Maple streets, as well as Johnston Avenue.
Height issues

Tanya Chauhan, who lives with her husband and her two children in the Bergen-Lafayette section, objected to the changes in the height and density in an area where there are many older buildings no higher than four stories. She said the older buildings could be overshadowed by projects such as 125 Monitor St., which is currently being developed for residential housing as high as 14 stories.

City Planner Bob Cotter said at last week's meeting that the plan will be sent to the City Council with All Saints left out at the request of City Councilwoman Viola Richardson.
Opposing sides

Chauhan and fellow resident Dianna Guadagnino came late to last week's Planning Board meeting, and both were unhappy that most of the amendments were approved. Chauhan reiterated her concerns that the amendments would create too much density and height.

Guadagnino criticized Jones for having too much influence in the Morris Canal Redevelopment Plan, specifically with the height and density amendments. Guadagnino believed the amendments would mostly benefit Jones and the Morris Canal Development Area Community Development Corporation (MCRACDC), which has several properties within the Morris Canal Redevelopment Plan that the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency assigned to them.

Jones said she welcomed the opportunity to work with other members of the community who may disagree with her.
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com

©The Hudson Reporter 2006

steveikin

September 11th, 2006, 09:53 PM

www.njtrump.com (http://www.njtrump.com/) - Very strong amenities, plus possibly the best "For Sale/Coming To Market" website I've seen for a NJ property; Another strong indicator that JC’s marketing to NYC as much as NJ.

brunfuss

September 12th, 2006, 01:05 AM

so, any news on the Metropolitan?

hope that gets built!

a couple more talls such as Harborside 7 and the Metropolitan would really make the skyline impressive.

JCMAN320

September 12th, 2006, 11:08 AM

I hear ya bruss. No, no news yet on it. It is coming up for approval soon I know. That as much as I know. Sorry. :)

JCMAN320

September 14th, 2006, 01:41 AM

Hey guys the site of Mac's Video store that has been fenced around for about a month or two has some activity finally. There was a contractors truck and a backhoe in there today. They will start demoliton and site prep work this week. The site is going to be home to a 8-10 story condo from what I'm told. I will post pics of the site tomorrow. I love that my neighborhood has finally become a hot spot. :)

FiveNines

September 14th, 2006, 07:58 PM

JCMAN320

September 14th, 2006, 09:43 PM

No idea bro. I'll find out once a sign goes up.

tbal

September 15th, 2006, 11:17 AM

My crystal ball tells me that we will soon see another tower rise at Harborside... ;)

Deutsche Bank Ups Space to 282,000 SF
September 14th, 2006

By Eric Peterson (http://www.globest.com/cgi-bin/udt/im.author.contact.view?client_id=globest&story_id=149042&title=Deutsche%20Bank%20Ups%20Space%20to%20282%2C0 00%20SF&author=Eric%20Peterson&address=http%3A//www.globest.com/news/718%5F718/newjersey/149042%2D1.html&summary=JERSEY%20CITY%2DThe%20bank%20has%20added%2 0nearly%2054%2C000%20sf%20to%20its%20occupancy%20a t%20Mack%2DCali%20Harborside%20Plaza%201%20buildin g%2C%20after%20having%20just%20signed%20a%20renewa l/expansion%20for%20228%2C000%20sf%20in%20August.)

JERSEY CITY-Mack-Cali Realty Corp. officials announced late yesterday that “a major international bank” had taken an additional 53,727 sf at the Cranford-based REIT’s Harborside Financial Center Plaza 1 on this city’s waterfront. Company officials did not identify the tenant, citing a confidentiality agreement, but sources confirm that the tenant is Deutsche Bank. The latter is in fact currently listed as a major tenant at the building.

The expansion follows on the heels of a related transaction in August. In that one, Deutsche Bank (http://www.globest.com/news/688_688/newjersey/148491-1.html) signed a lease for a total of 228,193 sf in the 400,000-sf eight-story building, a deal encompassing a 90,000-sf renewal and an expansion of more than 138,000 sf. That signing replaced a lease that was set to expire at the end of 2006, and this latest expansion bumps Deutsche Bank’s occupancy in the building to nearly 282,000 sf.

“This transaction is an indication of the success of our repositioning efforts at this Harborside building,” says Mitchell E. Hersh, Mack-Cali’s president/CEO. “HarborsideFinancialCenter has become an attractive office location.”

The repositioning and modernization referenced at Plaza 1 was completed earlier this year, and the latest Deutsche Bank expansion brings the building to more than 94% occupancy, according to information released by Mack-Cali. Altogether, the REIT has more than 4.3 million sf in Jersey City, a portfolio that’s currently 98.9% leased. Of that total, about 3.6 million sf is tied up in the multi-building Harborside complex.

The expansion, which carries a term of approximately 10 years, was pursuant to an option in the lease signed in August. Combined, the deals will keep Deutsche Bank in the building into 2017. David Maurer-Hollaender led a team of New Jersey and New York brokers from CB Richard Ellis in representing the tenant, while Mack-Cali was represented in-house. Further terms were not released.

JCMAN320

September 15th, 2006, 12:02 PM

Great news to hear about more jobs coming over here!!! Lets keep it up!!!

Here is an article showing that the city as a whole is coming back. These condos are by where the Beacon is:

19 condos on Bergen Ave. hailed as evidence of rebirth

Friday, September 15, 2006

A host of local officials yesterday kicked off the sales of 19 condos on the 600 block of Bergen Avenue in Jersey City, hailing it as a sign of increasing investments in areas of the city other than the Gold Coast.

The family team of Santomauro General Contracting turned two four-story row homes into 19 condominium units.

The buildings will come equipped with a full-time concierge and high-tech energy-saving amenities.

The renovated buildings, financed by Bayonne Community Bank, will also feature two commercial spaces, a deli and a possible salon/spa.

The condo owners will have partial ownership of the commercial space and the revenue will help offset condo association fees, according to Bill Santomauro.

Four generations of the Santomauro family were present at yesterday's ceremony, symbolic of the long line of entrepreneurs in the family that began with Anthony Santomauro's painting business in Jersey City in 1949.

Sale prices for the units start at $140,000 and rise into the $300,000 range, according to officials.

JARRETT RENSHAW

macmini

September 15th, 2006, 02:18 PM

curbed.com is talking about Jersey City although they have their facts wrong. They seem to think that The Ellipse and The Metropolitan are the same building.

FROM CURBED:

Jersey City "Ellipse" Turns Out to Be Elliptical
Friday, September 15, 2006, by Robert

http://www.curbed.com/2006_09_Ellipse.jpg

We go across the Hudson for the second time this week (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2006/09/13/across_the_hudson_red_bull_park.php), courtesy of a tipster, who brings our attention to the rendering of the big, really big, 67-story residential tower that is planned in Jersey City. We visited this one back in June (http://www.curbed.com/archives/2006/06/01/ellipse_coming_to_shake_up_boxy_newport.php), but without a rendering to do it justice. The 755 foot tall giant, which is alternately called "The Ellipse" and "The Metropolitan," comes at us from Arquitectonica. Tipster writes:
I've seen the plans...Boomerang shape. Cool top. Boxy podium with pool on top. Very Miami.There are several more apartment towers on the drawing board too, but we don't know if they also break from the boxy Jersey City waterfront look.

JCMAN320

September 15th, 2006, 02:23 PM

Wow they are using the picture I took of the plans. lol

Hey I want credit!!! That's my picture!!!!:)

JCMAN320

September 15th, 2006, 02:41 PM

New director at Redevelopment Agency
Wants development on abandoned city property; more visibility

Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter staff writer 09/02/2006

A city agency charged with redeveloping approximately 75 city properties has a relatively new director.

In April, Robert Antonicello, who used to be a private real estate broker, was named the new executive director of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency by Mayor Jerramiah Healy.

"What I do here is what I did on the other side the table when working in the private sector," said Antonicello in an interview last week. "I'll be reviewing all the city's redevelopment projects and find out where some of them have been stalled."

The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency is an autonomous agency created in 1949 to revitalize blighted and economically depressed areas in the city to promote economic growth.

The agency designates developers to build projects in these areas, most of which are city-owned property.

Antonicello had previously worked in the private sector for over 20 years as a real estate broker and consultant.

But he had worked for the city's Redevelopment Agency and Planning Department for a short time in the early 1980s after graduating from Rutgers. He has a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University's Newark campus in city planning and urban affairs, and a master's degree from New York University in real estate development.

Antonicello said Mayor Healy got to know him because he had dealt with him previously in the mid 1990s. That was when Healy, as the chief judge of the Jersey City Municipal Court, had to retain Antonicello's services in finding land for a new location for the court, which now sits on Summit Avenue.

"Healy wanted someone in place who understood the intricacies of how development was done and could extract the best value of properties," said Antonicello.

His plans for the agency

In an interview, Antonicello talked about his first 100 days and said he went through all the redevelopment projects the agency had been working upon. He said there at least 75 redevelopment projects under the agency's auspices.

"I am going over projects that are at least a year old and how asking why these projects are not going through," said Antonicello. "In the second 100 days, my plans will be to advance the ball farther down the field."

Among the major projects he will be keeping his eye on are the redevelopment of Journal Square near the PATH station, being done by the Harwood family, and the development of the old Hudson/Manhattan Powerhouse on Washington Boulevard.

Journal Square

Antonicello sees great things for Journal Square, particularly the area near the PATH Station, where there was a dilapidated set of buildings on the verge of collapse until they were torn down early this summer.

In March, the Harwood Family, who has maintained a business in Journal Square for the last 70 years, was designated by the Redevelopment Agency as developers of the area. They had acquired the buildings from the previous owners, the Tawil family. They plan to build two mixed-use high-rise towers, which will include apartments, retail stores and parking. The plans also include a hotel.

"Journal Square is a number one priority," said Antonicello. "The creation of a transit village is something I see can do great things for that part of the city."

The "transit village" is a concept that the state is promoting to encourage homes and businesses around public transit hubs, to reduce traffic and reliance on cars.

The Powerhouse

In July, Baltimore-based developer David Kordish was designated the developer of the Powerhouse, a large boxy building that once provided electricity for the massive Hudson Manhattan railroad (the precursor to the PATH system).

The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency was responsible for designating Kordish.

The Powerhouse lies in the Powerhouse Arts District, a redevelopment zone that runs from Washington Boulevard to Marin Boulevard.

Construction of the original Powerhouse building started in 1906 and was completed in 1908. It is a steel-framed 200,000-square-foot edifice with its 28-inch thick brick walls. But it only operated until 1929 and was abandoned for many years, although the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey still used it as a power station.

There have been efforts since 1999 by the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy to preserve the building. During that time, Kordish has been negotiating with the city to become the developer. Kordish developed the old Baltimore Power Plant into the ESPN Zone Restaurant and a Barnes and Noble bookstore on the waterfront.

"The Powerhouse is a priority," said Antonicello. "It will be unique. Five years from now, I see someone coming to the Powerhouse to go to the Barnes and Noble, and have a drink at a bar."

How it works

A redevelopment plan is a plan that provides for the reuse or redevelopment of property within a municipality. The Jersey City Planning Dept. designates an area in need of redevelopment then drafts a redevelopment plan.

Then the plan is introduced in front of the Planning Board for their consideration. If the plan is approved, then it goes to the City Council, which introduces the plan at a council meeting where it is read into the record. At the next council meeting, the council does a final vote to either approve or not approve the plan.

The JCRA designates a developer(s) for the redevelopment area.

Making it known

Antonicello said boosting the public image of the agency was needed to make its workings more "transparent" to the public.

Press releases were sent out in July by the agency regarding its board's approval of a developer for the Hudson/Manhattan Powerhouse and of the renovation of a historic home on city-owned property on Monticello Avenue.

The agency has placed signs on various properties across the city letting the public know that it was a project approved by the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. Antonicello also plans to have a website for the agency by the end of the year.

"The greatness of a city is providing for its residents that you build a great city," said Antonicello. "And that's what I want the public to know that the Redevelopment Agency is doing."

fronti

September 16th, 2006, 11:23 AM

At least Shop Rite isn't going anywhere...
http://www.hudsonreporter.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17204469&BRD=1291&PAG=461&dept_id=523586&rfi=6

Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter staff writer
http://images.zwire.com/local/Z/ZWIRE1291/zwire/images/2006/09/story/09metropolitan17b_story.jpghttp://images.zwire.com/images/spacer.gif FUTURE CONDO SITE – The Metropolitan is planned for construction on the site of the Pep Boys Automotive Supercenter. The other stores at the center will remain. http://images.zwire.com/images/spacer.gif
A 755-foot residential tower called the "Metropolitan" is being proposed for land just south of the Newport Mall, at the site of where a Pep Boys Automotive store is currently located.

If it gets its city approvals, the structure at Sixth and Washington streets would be the second largest building in New Jersey. The largest building is already in Jersey City: the Goldman Sachs building at 30 Hudson St. stands at 791 feet.

Within a 10-block radius, there are several condo towers either under construction or that have been approved for construction, including: the 55-story Trump Plaza Jersey City on Washington Blvd. and Bay Street; the 33-story Athena on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Second Street; and the proposed San Remo I, San Remo, and Monaco condo towers located off Washington Boulevard behind the Doubletree Hotel.

The Metropolitan, when completed, will have 809 condominium units, 809 parking spaces on seven floors, and 12,445 square feet of retail space.

The tower is one of several that may be built in that 18-acre shopping area currently anchored by a Shop Rite supermarket and BJ's Wholesale Club. But those shopping stores will still remain.

The plans for the Metropolitan were presented to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency at their August meeting, and will be presented to the Jersey City Planning Board on October 3.
Details behind the Metropolitan

G&S Investors, a real estate investment company based in Port Chester, N.Y., will build the Metropolitan. They have been the owners of the Metro Plaza shopping center since the early 1990s.

The designer of the project is the architectural firm Arquitectonica of Miami. They also designed the Ellipse, a 460-foot residential tower planned for construction in Jersey City's Newport residential area. They also designed the Westin Times Square hotel in New York City.

Tom Lehne, consultant for G&S Investors, said last week the Metropolitan is estimated to cost $180 to $200 million and construction would start next summer, pending all approvals from the city.

Lehne was the former head of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency in the early 1980s.

Lehne also dispelled rumors regarding the closing of the Shop Rite supermarket, BJ'S Wholesale Club, and Bed, Bath & Beyond stores.

"The other stores have very long-term leases and they are doing great business, especially the Shop Rite," said Lehne. "And it is the wish of [Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy] and the Redevelopment Agency, and I am sure the Planning Department, that the Shop Rite and its parking lot stays intact."
First phase of development at shopping center

Jersey City attorney Francis Schiller, representing the developers, said the Metropolitan project would be the first phase of a larger development project that would span over 20 years, with retail always having a presence in the plaza. Schiller said there will be a meeting with the city's Planning Department to create a master plan specifically for the plaza.

What prompted G&S Investors to look at a residential component? Lehne said the decision was based on them seeing the continuing development in Jersey City.

Schiller said there is no height restriction in the area, which is governed by the Hudson Exchange Redevelopment Plan. The height of this building, Schiller said, would provide "great view corridors" of the New York Skyline to the east and the Watchung Mountains to the west.
What's inside the Metropolitan?

Lehne said the developers are looking to provide a "first-class signature building."

Instead of housing only condos, Lehne said the developers may decide to provide a mix of condos and rentals. That will be predicated on a marketing study being done by the developers currently to learn how to attract new residents to the Metropolitan.

Lehne added that the developers will contribute their share of affordable housing as required by the city for the its Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

Residential units will conceal the four stories of parking from public view.

The 12,445 square feet of retail space on the ground floor will be divided into three areas. Both Schiller and Lehne agreed that the retail will be "neighborhood friendly boutiques" or small-scale retail since there are already big-box stores.
Councilman likes project but not abatement

Lehne said the developers will seek a tax abatement for the project.

A tax abatement is an agreement to exempt a developer from paying regular fluctuating property taxes. Instead, the developer makes a separate revenue deal to pay money directly to the city over 20 or 30 years. The city gets all the money rather than having to share it with the county and schools.

In the last few years, the agreements have become controversial because some people believe developers don't need the extra incentive to build, and other residents may have to chip in a bigger share of taxes than they should have to.

"The city actually makes a lot of money; it's a revenue producer," argued Lehne. "This site is two, three acres, which will mean millions of dollars going to the city."

Also happy about the Metropolitan but opposed to an abatement being granted is Ward E City Councilman Steven Fulop, who represents most of Downtown Jersey City, including the project site.

"I think it will be a great project, but if they come to seek an abatement, I will vote against it," said Fulop. "I think they can build this project without incentives."
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com

STT757

September 16th, 2006, 12:41 PM

Could they help renovate/remodel the Shoprite, I like the Shoprite brand. This location I feel needs to be updated and remodeled to more closely resemble their Surburban counterparts.

JCMAN320

September 16th, 2006, 03:47 PM

Yes!!!! I hope it gets built!!!! Jersey City: Stickin it to NY 24/7!!!! :)

FiveNines

September 16th, 2006, 07:28 PM

No idea bro. I'll find out once a sign goes up.

I'm really hoping that area around the lightrail explodes with new housing construction.

TimmyG

September 17th, 2006, 06:14 PM

I took the light rail through Jersey City today on my way to Liberty State Park. The "A" building was up to about the sixth floor, and Trump was on the fourth floor. Foundation work for that Westin appeared to be coming along as well.

I hope that the Metropolitan will meet the street well if it gets built. It seems a little strange for a $1mil condo to have a BJ's parking lot right outside the front door.

sfenn1117

September 17th, 2006, 08:55 PM

Yes!!!! I hope it gets built!!!! Jersey City: Stickin it to NY 24/7!!!! :)

I know, right? Nothing that big gets built in NY. :rolleyes:

JCMAN320

September 17th, 2006, 10:02 PM

lol I know right. ;)

pianoman11686

September 19th, 2006, 02:25 AM

Loft Project in Jersey City Attracts a Big Name

By JONATHAN MILLER

Published: September 19, 2006

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Sept. 18 — Only a decade ago, the 13-block warehouse district near the waterfront here was little more than a tumbledown assemblage of buildings.

Over the years, it had become a refuge for artists and others, offering cheap rent for those priced out of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. But as Wall Street companies began migrating across the Hudson River, development on the waterfront surged. Builders, among them Donald Trump, saw opportunity and began creating luxury housing out of faded buildings, or constructing new ones.

On Monday, officials and developers gathered at a hotel built on an old pier to announce a major coup: one of the world’s most famed architects will transform a warehouse, once an artist enclave, into luxury lofts.

The architect, Rem Koolhaas, is a winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize and the designer of the Seattle Public Library, the Las Vegas Guggenheim, and the Prada store in Lower Manhattan.

Mr. Koolhaas, who has described his work as “flamboyant conceptually, but not formally,” was approached after a settlement the city reached with the landlord over the zoning of the site.

“My main intent is to do a sophisticated work,” Mr. Koolhaas said in an interview on Monday, although he was short on specifics and said it would take about six months for him to draw up a plan.

Of Jersey City, he said, “It is clearly emerging into a new future, though it’s not clear what.”

Developers and Mr. Koolhaas say they want the site to become a center in Jersey City, one with shops, cafes, galleries and other amenities.

How much of a role the current warehouse building will play in that vision is unclear. The building, a 140-year-old Greek Revival structure at 111 First Street, was a long a warehouse for the tobacco maker P. Lorillard and had been at the center of a long and bitter dispute. For 15 years it had served as a haven for artists — some living there illegally — and at its peak housed about 120 studios.

Last year, their legal options exhausted, the artists reached an agreement with the landlord, BLDG Management Company, based in Manhattan, to leave the building. In exchange they were forgiven what they owed in back rent.

Even before the artists were evicted, the president of BLDG, Lloyd M. Goldman, said that the building was unsafe and ought to be demolished.

How much of the building Mr. Koolhaas will preserve is unclear. The settlement drawn up by the city requires that the facade be preserved, but officials here said that they would be open to any changes Mr. Koolhaas might propose.

In July, the City Council approved zoning changes in the district that would allow developers on the site to build something considerably larger than what is already there, possibly as tall as 670 feet. The decision was criticized by local preservation and other groups.

City officials boasted on Monday that getting someone like Mr. Koolhaas here was a boost to the city. “We want to have someone of this status come here,” said Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. “We wanted something spectacular.”

The waterfront, once the terminus for numerous rail lines and later a derelict wasteland, has undergone a renaissance in the past decade.

Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and other financial companies opened offices here. Last year, Mr. Trump announced that he would take the lead in developing the tallest residential building in the state a block from 111 First Street. Nearby, another high-rise is being built on the site of a former warehouse. Two blocks away, a 35-story residential tower is being built atop a former parking lot, and a half dozen warehouses in the district have been converted to luxury housing.

But a softening economy over the past few years has prompted some developers to switch their ambitious office projects to luxury residential ones.

The building Mr. Koolhaas intends to design will be 1.3 million square feet and include 710 condominium units. In addition, there will be 120 “work-live units,” some of which will be offered to artists at below-market rate. The plan also calls for 16,000 square feet of art galleries and about 52,000 square feet for retail use. The owners say they hope to start building next year and finish by mid-2009.

Mr. Koolhaas said that Jersey City has potential, but acknowledged that the city is still a work in progress.

“The streetscape is difficult,” he said. “It’s not great yet. There’s still a lot to be done.”

Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company

badger2

September 19th, 2006, 11:00 AM

Anyone hear anything at all about this project, or notice any activity at the site???? Additionally, how is the Beacon doing these days?

JCMAN320

September 19th, 2006, 12:03 PM

No s*** it's a work in progress, they should just hang a big sign over the city saying "under construction" lol ;)

With the streetscape the developer is reffering to the warehouse district itself. The streetscape has to be worked out because the district is just getting started.

The developer of Ameircan Can has been moving stuff and emptying out the floors so they are prepping.

111 1st will start demo work soon.

Great news to hear from the article thx piano.

macmini

September 19th, 2006, 01:40 PM

Anyone hear anything at all about this project, or notice any activity at the site???? Additionally, how is the Beacon doing these days?

The manager of the marketing co. handling the Beacon confirmed with me that January closing dates have been moved to March. An Phase I is 80% sold last month when I visited the sales office. The demo work has already start at 111 First Street.Rem Koolhaas that's it! we've made it Jersey City is on the map I'm speachless. More changes are coming to JC, Newport Mall just opened a Coach Store it looks like the mall is turning itself around.

I was just looking on emporis and if the Metropolitan is built it will be the second tallest Residential Tower in the US.

JCMAN320

September 19th, 2006, 08:49 PM

Absolutely awesome!!!! Jersey City keep up the good work!!!!!!!

TimmyG

September 19th, 2006, 09:25 PM

I was just looking on emporis and if the Metropolitan is built it will be the second tallest Residential Tower in the US.

It might not be second for long, because I think Chicago has a couple of tall residentials going in. That's still good news though.

lofter1

September 19th, 2006, 10:02 PM

Loft Project in Jersey City Attracts a Big Name

... one of the world’s most famed architects will transform a warehouse, once an artist enclave, into luxury lofts.

The architect, Rem Koolhaas ... was approached after a settlement the city reached with the landlord over the zoning of the site.

... How much of a role the current warehouse building will play in that vision is unclear. The building, a 140-year-old Greek Revival structure at 111 First Street, was a long a warehouse for the tobacco maker P. Lorillard ...

... the landlord, BLDG Management Company ... said that the building was unsafe and ought to be demolished.

How much of the building Mr. Koolhaas will preserve is unclear. The settlement drawn up by the city requires that the facade be preserved, but officials here said that they would be open to any changes Mr. Koolhaas might propose.

P. Lorillard Tobacco Company

111 First Street
Between Warren Street and Washington Boulevard
Jersey City Historic Warehouse District

http://www.njcu.edu/Programs/jchistory/Pages/L_Pages/Lorillard_Tobacco.htm

http://www.njcu.edu/Programs/jchistory/Images/L_Images/Lorillard_Tobacco_lightened.jpg
P. Lorillard Tobacco Company
Photo: C. Karnoutsos, 2001

http://www.njcu.edu/Programs/jchistory/Images/L_Images/Lorillard_Building_2002_Small_AS.jpg (http://www.njcu.edu/Programs/jchistory/Images/L_Images/Lorillard_Building_2002_Large_AS.jpg)
P. Lorillard Tobacco Company
Photo: A. Selvaggio, 2002

At the end of the nineteenth century, P. Lorillard and Company stood as one of the leading recognized brand-name manufacturers in America, one of the oldest manufacturers of tobacco products, and was the nation's largest manufacturer of tobacco. It became synonymous with the production of all manner of tobacco including snuff, plug, chewing, and smoking tobacco, numbering over 160 brands. In 1883, the company reported sales of over $10 million a year in domestic and foreign trade from the production of over 25 million pounds of tobacco products.

Lorillard developed mastery in the category of advertising: they paid farmers to allow painted signs on the sides of barns, included trade cards in their packaging, and offered premiums for other products. Lorillard may also be responsible for use of the "cigar store Indian" in association with the sale of tobacco as early as 1789 (James 16). Kent cigarettes were named for Herbert A. Kent, a board chairman and former president, who promoted the "Old Gold" brand of cigarettes. The "Old Gold" name in colored brick still appears on the circular chimney within the courtyard of the former Lorillard facility.

This Jersey City-based national corporation began with Pierre Lorillard, a French Huguenot, who started making snuff in the Bronx, New York City, in 1760. The snuff factory site today is part of the New York Botanical Garden. Lorillard's sons Peter and George took over the business, setting the pattern for a long-term family involvement in the company. It was incorporated in 1891.

In the early 1870s, the Lorillard Company moved to 111 First Street, Jersey City, and manufactured tobacco products as well as snuff. It took over a Greek Revival brick building that was constructed in 1866 by an unknown artist for one of the nation's first conglomerates, the American Screw Company, which fronted on Washington Street. It soon became part of the growing industrial complex in Jersey City. In 1868 Charles Siedler (Jersey City mayor, 1876-1878) became a partner with the company.

Rick James, in his nominating report for the "warehouse district" of Jersey City for historic preservation, remarks that Siedler most likely led his partners to develop their company in Jersey City. Here the company could take avail itself of several advantages offered by the city: the Pennsylvania Railroad and Harsimus Yards for product distribution; a newly arrived immigrant labor supply; nearby port location for the importing of spices for the flavoring of its various tobacco brands; and a municipal water supply system for safety measures. Fire prevention was of the utmost importance to Lorillard in safeguarding the firm's highly combustible products. Lorillard was noted for the installation of the latest automatic sprinkler system of the time in its manufacturing plant as well as for maintaining a detail of firefighters (15-17).

In 1883, Industries of New Jersey, Hudson, Passaic, and Bergen Counties published the following description of the company:

It occupies three immense brick buildings used as factories that cover sixty-six city lots of 25 x 100 feet, and has eighteen city lots under its lumber yard for its use, for the manufacture of cases, etc., for packing its good for transportation . . . .Two of the factories cover one entire block each. These are fitted with machinery, and the united force of four steam engines is required to operate it, amounting to 800 horsepower. Thirty-five hundred hands are employed in these factories, the payroll amounting to thirty-five thousand dollars per week, the hands being paid weekly. (886)
Among the workers who numbered four thousand in 1884 were school-aged boys and girls. Since Jersey City lacked a free night school program, Lorillard accommodated New Jersey's compulsory school law for those younger than sixteen by forming its own evening school for its workers in 1884. The school was in the library of Booraem Hall on Newark Avenue, not far from the factory. It also offered a free library for the adult employees managed by Dr. Leonard S. Gordon, Lorillard's chief chemist and physician; he was later director of the Jersey City Free Public Library (http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/J_Pages/Jersey_City_Free_Public_Library.htm) (James 17). Lorillard also offered sewing classes and a dispensary for its employees.

In 1887 Lorillard constructed an annex between First and Second streets. Besides the manufacturing plant in Jersey City, it maintained corporate offices at 114 Water Street in New York City.

By 1910, Lorillard became part of the American Tobacco Company. The following year, Lorillard, which retained its name, began construction of a new factory on the Thompson estate in the Marion section of Jersey City on 170 city lots for the employment of 4000 to 5000 workers. The six-story building was a fireproof structure of steel and brick and was located in the proximity of the Pennsylvania, the Lackawanna, the Susquehanna and the Erie railroads for shipment of its products nationwide.

After the US Supreme Court found the American Tobacco Company "in restraint of trade," Lorillard became an independent company again, operating its "plug" factory at 111 First Street to about 1919 and its cigar factory at 104 First Street to about 1928; the latter building was destroyed by fire, circa 1990. In 1905 the warehouse was taken over by the Butler Corporation, a distributor to independent variety stores, and in 1928 the main Lorillard facility was taken over by J.R. Reynolds, the manufacturers of "Camel" cigarettes.

Today the block-long warehouse at 111 First Street is part of a district designated for arts development in Jersey City. The former tobacco building offers artists interior space with rental studios, a commercial gallery and the Chamot Gallery. It may be viewed from new Hudson-Bergen Light Rail traveling through Exchange Place and the signage reading "P. Lorillard Company" is visible on First Street.

References:
Industries of New Jersey, Hudson, Passaic, and Bergen Counties. New York: Historical Publishing Co., 1883.
James, Rick."Warehouse District, Jersey City, New Jersey." 2003 (37 pages). http://www.jerseycityhistory.net/warehousenomination.html (http://www.jerseycityhistory.net/warehousenomination.html)
Jersey City of To-Day, Its History, People, Trades, Commerce, Institutions and Industries, Hudson County, New Jersey America. Ed. Walter G. Muirhead. Jersey City, NJ: Walter G. Muirhead, 1910. By: Carmela Karnoutsos
Project Administrator: Patrick Shalhoub

http://www.njcu.edu/Programs/jchistory/Navigation%20Page%20Graphics/copyrightnotice.jpg

A Little History

http://www.billrybak.com/JCinfo.html

Some years ago Mr. Goldman inherited two properties in the district, one of which is 111 First Street. The other was it's neighbor across the street at 110. Since then he has waged a one-man war against the Powerhouse Arts District, the landmarking of the warehouse district, the zoning laws in effect prior to the Powerhouse Arts District redevelopment plan, and the tenants of 111 First Street, its most vocal supporters.

http://www.billrybak.com/graphics/chimney.jpg
Photograph courtesy of Ed Fausty, of 111 First Street

The historic chimney of the Lorillard building towered more than 170' over the arts center
till it was demolished at the order of Lloyd Goldman in an extravagant fit of pique.

lofter1

September 19th, 2006, 10:07 PM

Side of 111 (Lorillard Building) - 1993

Sandra Swieder
http://www.jerseycityimages.com/swieder/swieder14/swieder14.htm (http://www.jerseycityimages.com/swieder/swieder14/swieder14.htm)

http://www.jerseycityimages.com/swieder/swieder14/swieder_side_111.jpghttp://www.jerseycityimages.com/clearpixel.gifhttp://www.jerseycityimages.com/clearpixel.gifhttp://www.jerseycityimages.com/clearpixel.gifhttp://www.jerseycityimages.com/clearpixel.gif
©1985 - 2005 All image rights reserved.

lofter1

September 19th, 2006, 10:16 PM

The Lorillard building at 111 First Street in Jersey City was until recently home to about 120 artists, musicians, artisans, craftspeople and art-related small businesses.

Their website and their story are at www.111first.org (http://www.111first.org)

For more about the Jersey City arts, music, real estate, poetry and politics scene check out: www.trismccall.net (http://www.trismccall.net)

A little more history:

UPDATE (http://www.billrybak.com/update.htm)

The artists who live and work at 111 First Street now have had to contend with a nonstop campaign of harassment and verbal and physical intimidation conducted by the employees of BLDG Management Co, and New Gold Equities, Goldman's management companies. This under the watchful eyes of the Jersey City Police officers Goldman is paying to work as his private security guards. They work for him in full uniform wearing their badges, carrying sidearms: exactly as they do on duty. Needless to say the ambiguity is disturbing. Especially since there have been two serious car-bashings near one of the locked entrances under their surveillance and an arson currently under investigation on their watch.

To put it another way, since Goldman has placed elements of the Jersey Police Force on his payroll and had them patrolling the Lorillard Building, the incident rate of serious crimes at that location has shot up dangerously.Members of the press have been harassed and chased from the building.

To date Goldman has accumulated 7.8 million dollars in fines for code violations that remain unremedied while his lawyers piously declaim that their efforts to evict artists and demolish their homes and studios are motivated by concern for their safety. In the trade this is called "demolition by neglect".

The recent arson involved gas lines that had been tampered with in a closed-up studio space that only New Gold's workmen and contractors had access to, and in fact had been working in just prior to the fire. In order to somehow make the place safer, New Gold has decided to go to the expense of demolishing interior non-bearing walls of the vacated studios. Presumeably to make it harder for any future arsonists to work unobserved. Somehow this also invoves taking out windows which obviously will also make the entire building a heck of a lot colder. So will their "repairing" of the gas lines which they have shut down and disconnected in order to test the entire system.

I guess the single heater that the arsonist rigged has somehow compromised the gas lines in all five floors of a building the size of a city block. New Gold estimates it'll be about 40 days before the system will be back on line. That would be some time in early January.

On the morning of Dec. 15, 2004, the Jersey Journal reported in a front page story that two employees of BLDG Management Co. had been arrested for obstruction of justice in connection with the arson investigation.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what's going on here.

Original elevation of the Lorillard Building:

http://www.billrybak.com/graphics/SCAN2.jpg

***

LocoAko

September 19th, 2006, 10:34 PM

Not that this adds anything of value, but looking out of my fourth floor window of my school in dowtown (which for some reason I've never done before on the side that faces the majority of JC) it is pretty cool to see everything from Ground Zero, across downtown JC, through Newark Ave up to JSQ, then down into Liberty State Park, Greenville and Westside Area, and even Bayonne and Newark in the distance. It's refreshing to see everywhere I go all from an aerial view.. nice perspective.

My friend mentioned to me that they're building a 97 story building?! sorry if it's been mentioned, I don't have time to search. Is that true?! :eek:

TimmyG

September 20th, 2006, 01:06 AM

^^^Not 97 floors. Maybe 67.

JCMAN320

September 20th, 2006, 11:02 AM

Jersey City shows off new rescue boat to work rivers

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City officials unveiled the city's new rescue boat at a City Hall ceremony yesterday.

"With the rapid growth along the waterfront we need a rapid response boat that can quickly navigate the shallow waters of the Hudson and the Hackensack," Fire Department Director Armando Roman said.

The boat was paid for using a $27,695 grant from Frenkel & Co., Inc. and Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, officials said. Frenkel CEO John F. Kelly said Jersey City needs the help and his organization was happy to provide it.

"With Jersey City presently suffering a $40 million budget deficit, there are no funds available for this desperately needed rescue boat, so we are very proud to be able to give back to the community in such a meaningful way," Kelly said.

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, a property and casualty company, supports firefighters for safer communities through the Fireman's Fund Heritage program, said company spokesman Danny Perry.

JCMAN320

September 20th, 2006, 11:04 AM

Public schools get Broad scholarship for closing gap

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City public schools received $125,000 in scholarship money for graduating seniors yesterday as one of four second-place finishers for the "Broad Prize," an award given to the top urban school districts in the nation.

The California-based Broad Foundation, founded by businessman Eli Broad, concluded that Jersey City outperformed other New Jersey districts that serve student populations with similar income levels when it came to closing the achievement gap in reading and math.

The fourth Broad Prize award ceremony was held yesterday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where Broad and school officials were joined by former president Bill Clinton.

Boston Public Schools snagged the top prize - $500,000 in scholarship money; while Jersey City Public Schools shared second place with New York City Department of Education, Bridgeport Public Schools, and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

"These three neighboring Northeast school districts stand out among American school districts for their progress in closing achievement gaps and improving academic performance of Hispanic, African-American and low-income students," said Broad. "Other urban districts around the country can learn a great deal from what is working in Jersey City."

Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Charles T. Epps Jr. was elated about the recognition.

"This is a wonderful honor for the state of New Jersey," Epps said. "We are the first school district in the state to be a finalist for this achievement. We continue to be proud of our staff, teachers, parents, and students of their ongoing hard work and dedication

tbal

September 20th, 2006, 02:15 PM

Can you say "Harborside Plaza VII"? (the proposed 1.8 mil. sq. ft. office tower; tallest building in the state of New Jersey, at 800 ft)...

VIACOM FLIRTS WITH JERSEY

September 20, 2006 -- MACK-Cali Realty Trust is negotiating with Viacom to build a 1.8 million foot headquarters in Harborside on the Jersey City Gold Coast, but don't bet on it.

Viacom, as we advised you in July, has also been dallying with various city property owners, including Trinity Church for a Hudson Square site, as well as with SL Green Realty Trust, which owns its current headquarters at 1515 Broadway.
SL Green is likely making its own pitch to keep them in that 1.754 million foot skyscraper where SEC filings show Viacom occupies 1.376 million feet. It currently pays $49.50 a foot and leases start to roll in 2008.
According to the CoStar Group, 1515's current asking rent is $75 a foot while competing new buildings have stickers of $80 to $100.
But with a plethora of tenants kicking towers, SL Green won't necessarily be at a loss to backfill the space, even if a Jersey move becomes a critical loss to the city.
Michael Laginestra, vice chairman of CB Richard Ellis, is overseeing negotiations for the media company's spatial needs, that could include moving MTV out of its popular Times Square studio at 1515. He continues to decline interviews.
Neither SL Green nor Mack-Cali would comment through their spokespeople and a spokesperson from the city Economic Development Corp. did not call back with a comment.
The news of the possible Jersey office development - without the name of the tenant - was mentioned in yesterday's "Buy" report on Mack-Cali from Merrill Lynch analyst Steve Sakwa to clients.
But it's no wonder Viacom is talking Jersey - they are not the only ones seeking space.
Pumped up from plumped earnings, the financial service giants are plotting their next office expansions - and also finding there's no place left at home.
Lehman Bros., Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns are all pounding the turf, along with numerous corporations and law firms, real estate execs say, trying to lock down critical trading floors and elbow room. But as the industry has been warning, the neon lights now read, "No Vacancy."
At last week's RealShare conference at the Roosevelt Hotel, speakers wondered why Long Island City's neophyte office market has fizzled - Met Life is locking up a 600,000 foot lease to bring execs back to Midtown at 1065 Ave. of the Americas - and are concerned vacancies along the Jersey shore will catch many expansions - as it already has with Citigroup.
That's because even with around 10 million feet coming at the World Trade Center, and future prospects along 42nd Street; on Eighth Avenue, where Boston Properties has sites; in Harlem, where Vornado just bought 1800 Park Ave.; in the Hudson Yards and the Penn Station area, the buildings can't be delivered soon enough at a competitive cost.
"We're running out of existing space but there are plenty of sites," insisted Steve Spinola, President of the Real Estate Board of New York. The problem, he says, is that city union labor could add to mounting construction costs while new office towers will be assessed property taxes at a minimum of $25 a foot.
Jersey taxes come in at under $5, says Jersey-based broker, Seena Stein, principal of Newmark Knight Frank. "It would be wonderful for the Jersey City market," she added of a possible Viacom relocation.
Yet Goldman Sachs is still kicking itself over building in Jersey and never filled that tower, instead constructing a new headquarters at the World Financial Center. Moody's finally signed with Larry Silverstein at 7 WTC for 600,000 feet, while U.S. Customs and the state have agreed to locate to over 1 million feet of the Freedom Tower.
It appears that working in trendy Manhattan wins over the employees who can merely swap jobs to competitors, whether the bosses like the numbers or not.
lois.weiss@nypost.com

JerseyBrett

September 20th, 2006, 02:17 PM

Hey everyone. Quick question regarding the warehouse district. I read recently that the historic district designation for the warehouse area was revoked. Are developers still planning to maintain these buildings through adaptive reuse? Please tell me they are. I would hate to see this area demolished. Thanks!

macmini

September 20th, 2006, 02:44 PM

It might not be second for long, because I think Chicago has a couple of tall residentials going in. That's still good news though.

Trump's chicago building is mix use i.e. condo's,hotel, and office the list is only residentials. http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/sk/st/tp/ty/rs/
Speaking of Trump the sales office opened last week for his JC condos and I heard they sold 70 condos already.http://www.njtrump.com/

injcsince81

September 20th, 2006, 02:44 PM

"With Jersey City presently suffering a $40 million budget deficit...

They are kidding, right?

They just raised my property taxes 18%, to about $10 grand/year for a 2 br condo, and the new construction is exploding all over.

Who's stealing the money, or mismanaging the store???

lofter1

September 20th, 2006, 03:14 PM

Who's stealing the money, or mismanaging the store???

Interesting cast of characters HERE (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showpost.php?p=121231&postcount=909)

pianoman11686

September 20th, 2006, 05:39 PM

Trump's chicago building is mix use i.e. condo's,hotel, and office the list is only residentials.

Trump Chicago will not have any office space.

JCMAN320

September 21st, 2006, 12:32 AM

Jerseyberett the warehouse district will be perseved just for the simple fact that many of the developments that taking place were approved under the historic guidelines, so most of those buildings will lbe perserved except for 111 First adn the new ones being built are being built to match the historic architecture of the warehouses. That area will still be geared for artists just because they have naturally gravitated to that area and with the developers still having to offer a certain precentage of their units to artists and must have galleries and theatres in them.

Injc I hear ya bro. I hope they don't increase it again. They just approved a budget to try and help close the gap. It's the much uneeded abatements. The city hands them out when they aren't neccesary so we the residents that don't live in the condos that have them.

It hope Viacom builds here, NY has way to much we must keep bringing them here and de-polarize Manhattan. Goldman ain't kickin themselves that much if they are going to focus on building a Goldman Sachs Campus here on the waterfront instead of a headquarters like they originally proposed. Jersey City get ready for the incoming office boom.

TimmyG

September 21st, 2006, 10:08 AM

What kind of galleries are in the warehouse district now? Are there any you would recommend JCMan?

JCMAN320

September 21st, 2006, 11:50 AM

Yea Timmy there are quite a few good ones not just in the Powerhouse Art Distrcit but throughout Downtown itself.

58 Gallery
58 Coles St. Downtown JC
http://www.fifty8.com/

Cooke Contemporary
125 First St., Powerhouse Art District

Allura Gallery
324 First St., Powerhouse Art District

MANA Fine Arts
227 Coles Street-Ground Floor

Project 001 Gallery
131 Erie Street

Those are just a few. 58 gallery is very impressive.

investordude

September 21st, 2006, 12:56 PM

JCMAN320

September 21st, 2006, 01:08 PM

Trump is waiting on the market to build the second tower. The first one is under construction and well see about the second one. JC somehow is still bucking the trend with housing. They are also getting filled up so it will be interseting to see what happens.

badger2

September 21st, 2006, 10:59 PM

Still looking for some word on American Can????

Also, I am somewhat indirectly involved with Viacom and I can almost guarantee that this is merely a "play." Cannot imagine they would leave nyc. I would bet. But then again, what is going on at American Can???

By the way, what are your career aspirations?

macmini

September 22nd, 2006, 04:40 PM

Emporis changed its status to under construction, but I thought a while back Trump held off on the permit to building the second tower to assess the market. Is it really under construction?

Also, are the Towers at Liberty National under construction - the post I got back to this question was along the lines of "well, they're building the golf course so I listed the towers as under construction."

I'm all for building this stuff, but hope information sources are accurate for people to make the correct guage on where Jersey City stands, especially since there is risk in a softening residential market some proposed towers may not get built.

No they made a mistake they also change the status of 77 Hudson now it has only one tower is under construction. They have Trump & 77 Hudson mixed up they changed both of their status. As far as I know The Towers at Liberty National are not UC the club house has started construction an the golf course is complete.

Via JC Vibe

Majestic II
279 Grove Street

http://www.jerseycityvibe.com/images/zoom/Majestic%20II/majesticii.jpg

http://www.jerseycityvibe.com/images/zoom/Majestic%20II/dscn0885.jpg

http://www.jerseycityvibe.com/images/zoom/Majestic%20II/dscn0881.jpg

http://www.jerseycityvibe.com/images/zoom/Majestic%20II/dscn0890.jpg

The Majestic II is a new condo building recently approved be developed by the Exeter Property Company - developers of the Majestic Condominiums, the Park Hamilton, Schroeder Lofts, and the St. Francis Project.

The Majestic II will stretch along Grove Street bordered by York and Montgomery and will abut the existing brownstones on York and Montgomery in order to continue the existing streetscape. The site currently features the old Sim's Carpet building, an old church currently being used as a day care facility, and a commuter parking lot.

The project will be six stories high and consist of 85 condo units, 3 townhouse units,.and 8,800 sq ft of rground floor etail space. In addition, the building will have a 2,650 sq ft rear courtyard and contain an over abundance of parking spaces - 963 in total.

JCMAN320

September 22nd, 2006, 08:24 PM

Those are my pics and I wrote that article!!!! Uhoh ID alert. lol Wow good to see my work. :)

JCMAN320

September 23rd, 2006, 02:08 PM

MOVE 'EM OUT

Saturday, September 23, 2006
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

There's now a price tag on the three buildings standing in the way of redeveloping a key block of Jersey City's Journal Square - and the city plans to seize the properties if the owners don't sell.

The buildings - one home to a KFC, one to a McDonald's and Song's Hallmark store and one vacant - are collectively worth $5.2 million, according to appraisers under contract with the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, the entity overseeing the redevelopment of the block, next to the PATH Transportation Center.

The agency's board voted Tuesday night to formally accept the appraisals and begin negotiations to purchase the properties. If agreement can't be reached with the owners, the agency will seize the properties through its powers of eminent domain, said JCRA Executive Director Robert Antonicello.

In May, the agency signed a deal with Journal Square Development LLC - a limited partnership created by Jersey City-based Harwood Properties - to build a two-tower retail/residential complex on the block.

But in order to do so, these three buildings have to be removed. Harwood Properties is under contract to buy the other properties on this block.

Lowell Harwood, managing partner of Harwood Properties, attended Tuesday's meeting and said the board's vote allows the $350 million project to move forward.

"We're just getting started," Harwood said. "We're not done."

Harwood has said he hopes to break ground early next year and anticipates a two-year construction timetable.

Under the terms of the agreement inked in May, Harwood was supposed to first negotiate with the owners on his own before the agency stepped in. Harwood said he made offers to the owners but they never responded. Harwood Properties is also on the hook to reimburse the agency whatever money it has to shell out to buy the properties.

Robert Kang, who owns 15-16 Journal Square (McDonald's and Song's Hallmark) acknowledged that he was contacted by a broker representing Harwood but said the offer was so low he never responded.

He declined to say what the offer was, as did Harwood. Antonicello said the city is satisfied that a fair offer was made. Florham Park-based developer Fred Kruvant, who owns 12 and 14 Journal Square, didn't return phone calls seeking comment.

Including materials and equipment still inside the properties, the KFC building is worth $1.4 million and the vacant one, where there used to be a Wendy's, is valued at $1.2 million. The McDonald's/Song's Hallmark property is worth $2.4 million, according to the appraiser.

Former Planning Board member Jeffrey Kaplowitz, who is a commercial real estate broker in Jersey City, said the city's offer seems fair.

"I don't think those are unreasonable prices, give or take 10 percent," he said.

tbal

September 23rd, 2006, 05:20 PM

I'm glad to see the JSQ towers are still making progress! Looks like the city is really determined to spread the growth!

Now, time for the construction update-
I snapped these shots this morning:

Trump was finishing installation of the new tower crane - we now have 3! (also note that the parking lot in the foreground has been blocked off - that is the proposed site for Harborside Plaza 6 & 7):
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/JCCranes2.jpg

At the JC Westin Hotel, foundation work continues, with more footers being poured today:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Westin1.jpg

The JCFD was at 111 First this morning, inspecting the interior and marked up the exterior with the two markings below (the one on the left reads "Floor open"...don't know what that's supposed to mean though):
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/111First1.jpg

77 Hudson is beginning to put together its own monster of a crane:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/77Hudson2.jpg

The Athena Tower recieved its own super-sized crane last week:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Athena1.jpg

Gull's Cove is starting to look impressive:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/GullsCove1.jpg

And finally, for those of you who didn't realize that Liberty Harbor North was a different project than Gull's Cove (I thought they were the same thing), they are two different, but very similar, buildings. Here's the progress at Liberty Harbor North:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/LHNorth1.jpg

macmini

September 23rd, 2006, 08:20 PM

Great pictures tbal!!!!!!

Many New Hotels Coming To Downtown & Journal Square -- Jersey City's New Tax Will Mean Millions

Come stay in JC -- Several new hotel projects underway

Ricardo Kaulessar - Hudson Reporter 09/22/2006

HAVE TO PAY MORE TAXES – The Doubletree Hotel on Washington Boulevard is one of the hotels in Jersey City that will be affected by a change in the city’s hotel tax law.

Several hotel projects recently have broken ground or received approvals from the Jersey City Planning Board.

The city already has 15 hotels, motels and boarding houses, frequently populated by business travelers to North Jersey and New York City.

There are two new hotels planned in the near future, as well as an extention to an existing hotel and possibly another hotel in Journal Square.

Among the upcoming projects are the Newport Westin Jersey City Hotel, a 429-room building located on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Sixth Street and Thomas Gangemi Drive.

There are also plans for a 300-room Hilton hotel in the Liberty Harbor North redevelopment area off of Grand Street.

In addition, the Doubletree Hotel at 455 Washington Blvd. will be getting more retail space and frontage.

The Harwood family of Jersey City, which is redeveloping Journal Square, is considering a hotel there.

Hotel tax

In addition, a recent change in the city's hotel tax will make hotel owners pay tax revenues to the city directly instead of deducting the monies from real estate taxes.

On July 28, the New Jersey State Legislature passed the bill that allowed for Jersey City as well as Newark and Elizabeth to directly collect the revenues from the six percent hotel tax, which taxes a hotel's occupancy. Hotels also pay a 6 percent sales tax to the state.

Two weeks ago, Gov. Jon Corzine signed the bill.

The Jersey City council introduced their own ordinance at their council meeting on Aug. 16 to change the hotel tax.

They passed it at a subsequent meeting.

429 rooms in Newport

The Newport Westin had been in the works since 2000, when the Marriott Hotel chain planned to build at that site.

On June 1, there was a groundbreaking at the Washington Boulevard and Sixth Street site with Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Jamie LeFrak of the LeFrak Organization, representatives from the Westin Hotels chain, and other city officials.

At a recent Jersey City Planning Board meeting, Bill Wissemann, a project engineer for Newport Associates Development Company, presented changes to the site plan for the Newport Westin.

They plan to increase the number of rooms from 414 to its current number of 429, decrease the height of the building by one story, and modify the building facade.

Wissemann told the board that pilings for the hotel's foundation have already been placed in the ground and construction is expected to be completed by next fall.

The Hilton

The next major hotel project underway is the 300-room Hilton hotel to be built in the Liberty Harbor North redevelopment area in Downtown Jersey City. The plan includes one million square feet of hotel space, 6,500 units of market-rate housing, 750,000 square feet of retail space, 4.5 million square feet of office space, and two parks totaling about 100 acres.

The hotel will be developed and managed by the Warren, N.J.-based Tramz Hotels Group. Tarrunumn Murad, CEO of Tramz Hotels, said recently that the plans have already been drawn up for the hotel and may be presented at a future Planning Board meeting.

She was fairly confident that the project will commence before the end of this year.

"Jersey City is a strong area and the city is fully supportive of our efforts to build the hotel," said Murad.

Journal Square

As for a hotel in Journal Square, Lowell Harwood said recently that the prospect is still being explored. Harwood is a managing partner of Harwood Properties, which entered into a contract in late spring with the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency to build two mixed-use high-rise towers, which will include apartments, retail stores, and parking. The plans also include a hotel.

"We're looking for the best concept for our development.

They had a hotel before in Journal Square and that didn't work very well," said Harwood, referring to the now-demolished Hotel on the Square, which sat vacant for nearly 20 years after a fire in 1987 damaged most of the structure.

Business climate helps

What is the attraction for hotel development in Jersey City? One obvious reason is that Jersey City is right across the Hudson River from New York City, one of the world's renowned tourism sites in the world, and is easily accessible by PATH train, ferry, and car. However, there are other factors.

Murad pointed out that the Hilton will be located in a rapidly developing area in the city, becoming, as Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy has said, "a world-class destination."

"Jersey City is becoming a strong market because of the proximity of tourism attractions like the Liberty National Golf Course and the Statue of Liberty, making it a great area for travelers," said Murad.

And there is the ever-present business market in Jersey City, which is home to numerous financial companies such as Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley, hence the city's nickname "Wall Street West."

Dan Frohwirth, real estate director for the Jersey City Development Corporation, said that the hotels in the city have benefited from the business climate. It has particularly helped those located near the Hudson River waterfront such as the Doubletree Hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott, and the "Hyatt Regency Jersey City on the Hudson" Hotel at Exchange Place.

"Many people who stay at the Jersey City hotels are not so much tourists as business travelers who are either clients from out-of-town or employees who have to stay over in Jersey City," said Frohwirth.

Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com (rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com)

tbal

September 23rd, 2006, 10:59 PM

As you can see in the picture I posted above, the JCFD was at 111 First this morning.

I was walking around the area tonight and saw some really suspicious activity. The first thing I noticed was that the stretch of First Street between Warren and Washington was closed off. Then, I saw a large forklift from the (adjacent) Athena tower storage area driving back and forth between 111 First and the Athena storage area. A crew of workers appeared to be dismantling the sidewalk sheds at 111 First along First Street.

What I don't understand is that it was 7:30 PM (very dark outside) and the workers were doing their demolition work without any lights on the site. It was completely dark (but the forklift was mighty loud).

I also noticed several vehicles around the building. As I walked down Washington, I saw a blue Dodge Durango curbed at the Washington St side of 111 First; it suddenly pulled away from the curb, flashed a red strobe-like light for an instant, and then turned down First Street to where the forklift was and workers were disassembling the sidewalk sheds.

There was also a mysterious Chrysler or Dodge minivan on Bay Street (the area between 111 First and 350 Warren street, which is closed off with temporary fences), which had its lights on and kept zig-zagging back and forth and making k-turns on the small stretch of Bay St.

About a half hour later, I noticed a white Dodge pickup driving around very, very slowly, up and down Warren St., on Washington, and Grove (but staying within a block or so of 111 First). I saw the driver, who appeared to be in his 50's; it looked like he had a badge on the shoulder of his shirt.

There was a scent of smoke in the air, though, so it could have been a fire inside the building. The people in the vehicles I saw may have been fire-fighters patrolling the area for trouble-makers, but then again, there were no marked police vehicles in the area, and I still don't see why they were working with a heavy-duty forklift at 111 First in the dark of the night.

Any thoughts??

I'll snap a few shots of the site tomorrow morning.

lofter1

September 24th, 2006, 01:06 AM

Did you get any license plate numbers?

And do you have life insurance?

;)

STT757

September 24th, 2006, 12:21 PM

I would think a Courtyard Marriott would work well in Journal Square.

JCMAN320

September 24th, 2006, 04:46 PM

Tbal here is what you witnessed:

Sunday, September 24, 2006

'Suspicious' fire at 111 First St.

Arson investigators are looking into a suspicious fire in the basement of a former Jersey City artists' colony, authorities said earlier today.

The fire in the basement at 111 First St. was reported at two minutes after midnight yesterday morning, Jersey City Fire Department spokesman Andrew Johnson said.

"It didn't start where a fire would normally start," Johnson said. "This building was locked up tight and that basement was not easy to get into."

The former P. Lorillard tobacco building had been converted 15 years ago into studios for scores of artists. However, it had been vacant since March 2005, after owner Lloyd Goldman struck a deal with the remaining artists to leave so he could demolish it and build condominiums. Just last week, it was announced that internationally acclaimed architect Rem Koolhaas would head the design team to convert the building into condominiums.

Johnson said no one was found inside the building and no injuries to firefighters were reported. However, due to the thick smoke, the large size of the building and the "maze-like construction" of the basement, firefighters remained on the scene for more than seven hours, shutting down traffic in the area until after dawn Saturday.

"This is a suspicious fire and the investigators have been conducting a number of interviews. I think they have a solid lead as to how this started," Johnson said.

Craig Garretson

tbal

September 24th, 2006, 08:46 PM

For your viewing pleasure, here's a pic of part of the skyline in Downtown Jersey City taken at dusk today:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/JCCranes3.jpg

STT757

September 24th, 2006, 10:03 PM

Driving into Jersey City these days it's remarkable the number of large cranes towering over the city, Jersey City is booming and it's something that will change the City for the positive.

STT757

September 24th, 2006, 10:06 PM

The only thing Jersey City needs now is to extend the PATH line to Newark Airport's Rail link station so business travelers and residents can have a direct link to the airport, imagine the conveinence of a business traveler getting off a plane at EWR riding to Airtrain to the rail link station, riding the PATH to Exchange place and walking into your hotel (Hyatt Regency).

That's conveinence!

QHIPHOP

September 27th, 2006, 03:54 PM

macmini

September 27th, 2006, 04:37 PM

I'm thinking of purchasing an investment property in JC and have been looking at places that have upward potential. Does anyone think that any parts of Bergen/Lafayette (ie Belmont) or Greenville have that potential? If not, where does the potential lie?

curious to hear your responses. JCman too.

I think Bergen/Lafayette is your best bet for an investment in the next five years. Greenville is a good investment but I think it's going to take longer then 5yrs to see profit. With the Whitlock Cordage Mills complex, Library Hall Lofts, The Foundry, and Morris Canal Redevelopment I see B/L taking off. Journal Square is also a good place to buy if they build the Harwood Towers it would be a better investment then Bergen/Lafayette.

Also:
The LIBRARY HALL LOFTS has started construction and the have a website. http://libraryhalllofts.com (http://libraryhalllofts.com)
http://www.libraryhalllofts.com/gallery1.jpg

http://www.libraryhalllofts.com/gallery4.jpg

Lafayette

September 27th, 2006, 05:19 PM

I agree Bergen/Lafayette is one of the best areas to invest in JC, prices are not as high as Downtown but defenitely on the rise. Specially close to Liberty State Park Light Rail. I actually bought a house there for investment earlier this year. The area is turning around quickly with new development.

check out these websites, these are all new developments in Bergen Lafayette.
www.jcfoundry.com (http://www.jcfoundry.com)
www.whitlockmills.com (http://www.whitlockmills.com)
www.libraryhalllofts.com (http://www.libraryhalllofts.com)

I am not associated with Metropolitan Realty, but I found this on their website. I did not know about these other projects. Does anyone know about this?

http://www.mghrealty.com/images/popMetro.jpg

http://www.independent.mghrealty.com/images/popIndependent.jpgThe
http://www.morris.mghrealty.com/images/popMorris.jpg

macmini

September 27th, 2006, 05:22 PM

New Pics

http://static.flickr.com/83/251821800_cb836a2c7d_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/84/251821798_50643c63d6_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/117/251819467_a467f47005_b.jpg

QHIPHOP

September 27th, 2006, 05:35 PM

Thanks Mac. Very helpful.

JCMAN320

September 27th, 2006, 06:02 PM

Latest Downtown high-rise 'tops off'

The Grove Pointe apartment complex, a 29-story building under construction on Luis Munoz Marin Boulevard across from the Grove Street PATH station in Jersey City, had its "topping off"ceremony today at noon.

The building will have 525 units - both rental and condominium.

The construction for Grove Pointe was at the center of controversy last summer when a local resident was arrested when she tried to prevent workers at the site from cutting down trees. The charges were eventually dismissed.

Mayor Jerramiah Healy and other city officials are expected to attend the topping off. The building is set to open some time next year.

I agree with Macmini Bergen/Lafayette is the next up and coming area so I would invest there. Mac summed it up for me lol. Nice job :)

lofter1

September 27th, 2006, 06:30 PM

The fugly cousin to the Zebra (42nd / 9th Ave) :confused: :confused: :confused: :

http://static.flickr.com/84/251821798_50643c63d6_b.jpg

pianoman11686

September 27th, 2006, 07:20 PM

That's one nasty mutha...

JCMAN320

September 27th, 2006, 07:21 PM

Lofter I couldn't help but think the same thing. I'm hoping it'll look better once it's finsihed completely.

steveikin

September 27th, 2006, 10:05 PM

Great photos Macmini - keep them coming. Cheers.

tbal

September 28th, 2006, 01:28 AM

I posted a ton of pics of the construction on Sunday.....look toward the bottom of page 62 of this thread.

steveikin

September 28th, 2006, 09:48 PM

I posted a ton of pics of the construction on Sunday.....look toward the bottom of page 62 of this thread.

Sorry tbal - I missed them; another great select of photos documenting JC's re-risings. Someone needs to recommend a high-quality 'Free' photo website to host all these photos (or you photoguys should vote on the best one and use it) - I'd hate for wirednewyork.com to bite-the-dust and for the central point of the hyperlinks be gone. Plus the 1990+ growth of JC should be visually recorded centrally somewhere because it's an an amazing story.

Macmini, tbal, JCMan and everyone - keep them coming.

JCMAN320

September 28th, 2006, 11:06 PM

http://static.flickr.com/90/213164504_074f0e54e4.jpg?v=0

Courtesy of BobbyCor from Flickr.com This pic makes Newport look magical.

LocoAko

September 29th, 2006, 08:26 AM

Wow!!!What a great picture!

macmini

September 29th, 2006, 01:11 PM

The fugly cousin to the Zebra (42nd / 9th Ave) :confused: :confused: :confused: :

50 Columbus
http://appliedco.com/images/featureColumbus.jpg

I don't think it's that ugly lofter once the put glass in it will look much better. Now that monstruous thing across from it Grove Point thats fugly and the facade is making it look worse.

Steveikin the pics are not mine they are from flickr and taken by Livia Llewellyn.

JCMAN320

September 29th, 2006, 01:17 PM

Mac I agree with you that Columbus Tower will look better once the windows get in. I also feel though that Grove Point will look nice once complete. We are judging both of the these buildings mid construction. Grove Pointe has very nice brick work and was desgined with guidence from the community. I think it will be very nice once complete IMO.

Also a note for all. Grove Pointe developers will strart renovating the park that the main entrance of the Grove St. entrance is in October 2nd. It already has the Union Square type roof over the entrance from pervious renovation, now the park will get a much needed facelift with picnic tables and perfromance area.

JCMAN320

September 29th, 2006, 02:57 PM

For all of the people who say JC isn't urban or isn't dense or doesn't have a true city feel, well see how well we are packed in and rethink those comments:

Courtesy of Wikipedia:

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 54.7 km² (21.1 mi²). 38.6 km² (14.9 mi²) of it is land and 16.1 km² (6.2 mi²) of it is water. It has the smallest land area of the 100 largest cities in America. The total area is 29.37% water.

Mind you we have 250,000 people packed in 15 sq miles, more will be here once all these residential projects are finished. A total of 10,000 units will come online in once all these residential buildings under construction are done in Downtown along, that does not account for the rest of the new residential contruction going on in the rest of the city. Also during the day with all the workers coming in our population surges to approx. 500,000. That is more than that live in the city of Boston Just something to think about. Also we will def past Newark by in population over the next 5 years making us the largest city in the state!! :)

investordude

September 29th, 2006, 07:38 PM

Obviously, there are a lot of people in the high rise forest by the JC waterfront, I don't think that's up for debate. But the "feel" of the JC waterfront is suburban - no street wall, awkward plazas, etc.

There are probably more urban areas inland, but the glitzy part along the water doesn't feel like it had pedestrians or city vibrancy in mind.

Having said that, its certainly a nice place and I still maintain its an asset rather than a disadvantage that Jersey City differentiates itself for a different consumer than Brooklyn or Manhattan. And its definitely more pleasant (at least right now) than Long Island City, which might be its closest comparison in terms of what NYC planners want to "compete" with Jersey City.

JCMAN320

September 29th, 2006, 07:47 PM

Investor while true about the waterfront now, that will change once the highrises that are u/c are finished. Also once all those parking lots become developments, it will change. So mark my words. First of all inland JC is extremely urban I hate when people don't step foot in this city and think they know what it's all about. Second JC will beat out all competitors in the area so I'm not worried. JC will shut up all the haters watch. Also investor when the WF started no one had any idea it would b as succesful as this. Remember all that use to be down there was railyards and warehouses. No existing small buildigns or shops nothing. So basically we are building a city from scratch along the WF. Give it more time it is still in its adolenscense stage where it is akward. As the waterfront builds more and matures more you will see it come into it's own. We have come far but still have a way to go thats all.

LocoAko

September 29th, 2006, 10:20 PM

Hm.. maybe I'm missing something, but when did this not become urban? If this isn't urban, what is it?

There is more to JC than the waterfront you know.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Jersey-city-new-jersy-night.jpg/300px-Jersey-city-new-jersy-night.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/30/55166634_46097b38b2.jpg

http://www.njasla.org/2000awards/MKW%20Journal%20Square%20aerial.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid91/p8448c10ae96715edda68b6e04977abae/fa621508.jpg

http://bias.blogfodder.net/archives/archive/photos/on%20the%20street%20Newark%20and%20Bay%20jc.jpg

http://www.hhrealtycorp.com/realestate/images/props/2Greenville.JPG

and some pictures i've taken over the years.

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9986/1001087ga8.jpg

(Yeah, my street sometimes has a flooding problem, lol. I'm sure JCMAN knows)

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7416/1002669hb8.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5232/storm12wj4.jpg

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/838/1001190kq8.jpg

I don't see waht the argument is here.

JCMAN320

September 29th, 2006, 10:59 PM

Loco was that that crazy storm we had mid summer like in August. I remeber that. Your block is like 4 blocks away. I could have done laps on your street. I don't ever remember seeing flooding like that that I saw on that day.

LocoAko

September 29th, 2006, 11:37 PM

Yes! (well, this storm was in late July) I own a weather station and I recorded 3 inches of rain in an hour. I haven't seen rain like that in a LONG time, not to mention the thunder or wind.

I don't want to hijack the thread, but here are some videos/pics. I was SOAKED.

Here is a video of the thunderstorm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOnUYiBtBVI

Here's the storm claming down. (not as interesting lol)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0uTnlQRAXc

But anyway, here are the flooding videos I took. Don't mind the screaming. The kids on my street were a bit excited. :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GruPolpEGY&mode=related&search= (don't mind me moaning. I'm really short and the water was up to my mid-thigh).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y8tYcJm3HU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycD2omZtubw

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8205/1002638db6.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5628/1002672rx9.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/4116/1002686fp9.jpg

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5601/1002699xw9.jpg

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1146/1002712rs5.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/1585/1002697wx7.jpg

OK, rant over. :)

macmini

September 30th, 2006, 12:05 PM

New 30-story Goldman Sachs tower approved - Community concerns over noise & lights

New 30-story Goldman Sachs tower approved
Planning Board hears concerns over office building

Ricardo Kaulessar
Hudson Reporter staff writer 09/29/2006

ADVOCATING FOR 50 HUDSON – Goldman Sachs executive Timor Galen speaks on 50 Hudson St at a Jersey City Planning Board meeting on Sept. 19.
The Jersey City Planning Board at its meeting on Sept. 19 approved a 30-story office tower by the financial firm Goldman Sachs of 50 Hudson St.

They also approved a public plaza between that new building and Goldman Sachs' existing 30 Hudson St. building.

The new building will be approximately 500 feet high, with 918,956 square feet including 21,380 sq. ft. of retail.

Originally, the building was planned for only 185 feet, but changes to the Colgate Redevelopment Plan, in which the proposed 50 Hudson St. building sits, were approved at the Planning Board's Aug. 16 meeting.

Residents concerned about communication

However, the Planning Board's approval, while unanimous, was anything but overwhelming. They heard a number of residents also aired their concerns over Goldman Sachs not meeting enough with the community.

Gerry Bakirtjy, president of the Historic Paulus Hook Association (HPHA), a Downtown Jersey City neighborhood group, said while the HPHA supported past Goldman Sachs projects, the association could not support this one.

Bakirtjy said the residents had concerns about the type of outdoor lighting to be used for the proposed plaza, how security will be handled at the proposed plaza, and noise from generators at the building.

Other residents called for changes to the electrical and mechanical systems in the building to cut down on noise.

Dorcey Winant, another Paulus Hook resident, requested that the Planning Board put off voting for the project until a future meeting for the community to study the plans for the project further.

Goldman Sachs executive Timor Galen said in the meeting that he would work with the residents to tend to most of the issues, but felt the changes to the electrical and mechanical systems would be difficult.

Galen said the project would be on a five-year schedule because of the "complexity" of the project.

The Planning Board called for Goldman Sachs to meet with the community when they are ready to construct the building's electrical and mechanical aspects.

The board also called for other conditions to be met by Goldman Sachs before construction is completed, such as providing samples of the materials to be used for construction. They also told Goldman Sachs to come back before the Planning Board before construction officially starts to review their site plan.

Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com (rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com)

z22

September 30th, 2006, 04:27 PM

JCMAN, Do you know if GS plans to have world renowned architect for 50 Hudson, or they plan to be cheap on this one?

tbal

September 30th, 2006, 06:16 PM

Crews were busy this morning removing the scaffolds around 111 First Street in preparation for demolition:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/FirstSt5.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/FirstSt1.jpg

Grove Pointe is really starting to look great:
(Looking down East down Newark Ave.):
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Grove1.jpg

(Main entrance):
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Grove3.jpg

(And, up at the tower):
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Grove2.jpg

At 77 Hudson, molds for footers have been constructed, so vertical construction may begin soon:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/77Hudson2-1.jpg

The tower crane at Columbus Plaza was being taken down (for now, until the start of Phase II ;) )

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Columbus2.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Columbus3.jpg

And, there is this building on Newark Avenue that has been under renovation for several months now and it seems that work has been completed just this past week. Every aspect of the exterior was redone, including all those tiles near the main doors and windows; all of those huge windows are new, and the sidewalk has been removed and replaced with pavers. It was originally built in 1929. Does anyone know what it is going to be used for? It seems like tons of money went into its resurrection - it went from being full of broken windows and having a heavily damaged facade to this:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/NewarkAve1.jpg

tbal

September 30th, 2006, 06:39 PM

Not much work has occurred at The Hudson over the past few weeks, but some new demolition equipment has been delivered:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Hudson2.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Hudson3.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Hudson1.jpg

The Athena continues to rise:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Athena3.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Athena1-1.jpg

Space between footers at the Westin has been filled in:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Westin1-2.jpg

And, here's a diagram of most of the Downtown construction projects:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/JCDiagram9.jpg

JCMAN320

September 30th, 2006, 06:51 PM

I'm sure they will use a world class architect considering this is going to be an extension of 30 Hudson with these two buildings being joined by the plaza in between. I have all the faith in the world that this will be an absolutely beautiful building. The the word go forth the JC won't be stopped and that the office boom is coming and very soon. Those are great construction pics and I love the diagram. It really shows Jersey City's vitality.

TimmyG

September 30th, 2006, 07:10 PM

The tower crane at Columbus Plaza was being taken down (for now, until the start of Phase II.

What is phase II?

JCMAN320

September 30th, 2006, 09:19 PM

Phase II will either be a residential or office tower depending on the market and will be a different lookin tower.

Dagrecco82

September 30th, 2006, 10:17 PM

Cloudy Jersey City

[/URL][URL="http://img97.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2422fj4.jpg"]http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8065/img2422fj4.th.jpg (http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/%5BURL=http://img97.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2422fj4.jpg%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8065/img2422fj4.th.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D)

LocoAko

October 1st, 2006, 12:02 AM

wow the goldman sachs tower looks awesome in that picture!!

OmegaNYC

October 1st, 2006, 01:12 AM

Shinny! :)

z22

October 1st, 2006, 01:52 AM

It's nice to look from this angle with the CRRNJ terminal on the left. BTW, you should get used to not calling it the goldman sachs tower anymore. The 50 hudson will be another goldman sachs tower.

macmini

October 1st, 2006, 02:18 AM

JCMan do you or anyone else know anything about this project?

http://www.dmrarchitects.com/frame_portfolio_housing.html
Washington First
http://www.dmrarchitects.com/images/WashingtonFirst1.jpg

A twenty-three story building, Washington First is comprised of 204 units with parking over a one story retail component. The facade of the four level parking garage and nineteen floors of condominiums is masked to reveal a level of detail to unify the building and promote the neighborhood architecture. This mixed use parking garage is strategically located between the retail shopping and the luxury residences to provide parking for residents, employees and the public.

http://www.dmrarchitects.com/images/spacer.gif

tbal

October 1st, 2006, 08:34 PM

Washington First was the first (or at least one of the first) design for what is now known as the "Athena" tower. Of course, the number of floors of the actual tower will be 32 when it is completed, and the design has changed somewhat, although alot of the elements of this rendering were included in the final design (significant amount of glass facade, tower built over parking garage, setback immediately above parking garage, etc.).

JCMAN320

October 1st, 2006, 08:55 PM

Yep :)

TimmyG

October 2nd, 2006, 10:04 AM

Sky's the limit in Jersey City

Monday, October 02, 2006 By JARRETT RENSHAW

JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Jersey City is quickly becoming Vertical City.
Already home to the state's four tallest buildings, by decade's end it could have the 10 tallest, further transforming nearly everything Downtown east of Grove Street into Manhattan-style high-rises, supported by an extensive public transportation system.
The city's Planning Board is expected to consider a 775-foot residential tower, dubbed the Metropolitan, on land just south of the Newport Mall, at the site the Pep Boys Automotive store.
If completed, the $200 million Metropolitan would become the state's second tallest building, after the 781-foot Goldman Sachs building on Hudson Street. The tower is one of several that may be built in the 18-acre shopping area currently anchored by a Shop-Rite supermarket and a BJ's Wholesale Club.
The Shop-Rite is expected to stay, perhaps absorbed by one of the future buildings, officials said.
It was just months ago that Donald Trump made his splash on the Gold Coast, announcing plans for Trump Plaza Jersey City, boasting that its two towers would be the tallest residential buildings in the state.
But with the announcement of the Metropolitan, Trump can no longer make that claim.
Jersey City has the four tallest buildings and another, Harborside Plaza 5, that is tied with Borgota in Atlantic City as the fifth. A number of projects slated for construction during the next several years will move into the state's top 10 list.
They include 111 First St., Trump Towers, the Metropolitan and 77 Hudson St.
"It is really a reflection of the pressure put on Jersey City to become vertical," said Bob Antonicello, the executive director of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency.
"The market is so great, the incentive is so great. Now, it becomes under-utilization of the land and there is no better example of that than the Pep Boys. Just to have retail there is under-under-utilization."
Ward E Councilman Steve Fulop, whose ward includes all of those skyscrapers, offered a mixed reaction.
"From an aesthetic point of view, it's a wonderful thing. We are going to have a wonderful skyline," he said. "From an infrastructure standpoint, we never planned for this much density. It's a possibility that we are growing faster than we expected.
"But that's a good thing," he added.

phresident

October 2nd, 2006, 11:29 AM

I'm sure they will use a world class architect considering this is going to be an extension of 30 Hudson with these two buildings being joined by the plaza in between. I have all the faith in the world that this will be an absolutely beautiful building.

I don't post here much (only once thus far). In that last post, I suggested caution in believing all the hype.

JCMAN, I've seen the plans for the Goldman Sachs site and they are anything but impressive. Everyone I know who has seen these plans has been underwhelmed to say the least.

Don't be so quick to drink the kool aid. Goldman Sachs originally presented "spectacular" plans for the two plots on the river and only the tower got built. They were "given" the street by the city for their "crystal palace" that was supposed to be a private/public amenity. That was the only reason the neighborhood agreed. But that ended up in the scrap heap (literally), and now they have a private walkway that they can expand a little and use for tables and chairs in the commercial space of the new building. We (the general public) get essentially nothing.

Our city government has no balls and will essentially give into anything a developer wants simply because of rateables. Yes, property taxes are a good thing for the city, but we need to focus on something more than just taxes. Someone's got to be looking out for the bigger picture in regards to Jersey City because each individual developer isn't going to do it themselves. They are simply worried about their own bottom line.

Finally, Goldman Sachs is hedging some sort of bet here. There is no reason for them to be rushing a site plan on a building they have no intention of building for the next 3 to 5 years; except for a reason that only they are privy to. I have my own theories on what that reason is, but it is only my deductions and nothing on any inside information I have. So I'll forgo it.

Again, be careful about appearances. You are admittedly young and idealistic which is truly a great thing. Give yourself about 20 or so more years though and you might just have just a little different perspective. Don't get me wrong, I think the growth of Jersey City is great, I'm just not convinced that we are doing enough to assure ourselves that the end product will be something of lasting pride.

phresident

October 2nd, 2006, 11:40 AM

At 77 Hudson, molds for footers have been constructed, so vertical construction may begin soon:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/77Hudson2-1.jpg

This site requires about 1,400 piles to be driven over a two to three month period. I'm not sure they've even been at it quite a month.

I wouldn't get too exited to see much rising into the air any time soon.

The tower crane at Columbus Plaza was being taken down (for now, until the start of Phase II ;) )

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g245/jcwalkingman/Columbus2.jpg

I don't believe Phase II is anywhere in the near future. The next thing to be built is the low rise parking/commercial stucture. They are using a conventional crane for that construction.

The second tower (Phase II) is a future development that will only be built if the market supports it. I'm not even sure if it has even been designed yet.

investordude

October 2nd, 2006, 01:02 PM

You think your opinion counts for more because you're older than Jcman? C'mon - if you have a point, say it. Don't say "I'm older than you so you're wrong." Pathetic.

investordude

October 2nd, 2006, 01:03 PM

err, the last post was in response to phresident.

lofter1

October 2nd, 2006, 01:51 PM

You think your opinion counts for more because you're older ... Don't say "I'm older than you so you're wrong."

phresident didn't say jcman was "wrong" ...

and experience does sometimes give a broader perspective.

tbal

October 2nd, 2006, 11:07 PM

This site requires about 1,400 piles to be driven over a two to three month period. I'm not sure they've even been at it quite a month.

I wouldn't get too exited to see much rising into the air any time soon.

For what it's worth, the first thing that they did at the site back in June (far before the official "ground breaking ceremony") was drive about 20 piles into the parking lot...my point in that post was that they have constructed molds to form the poured concrete footers, which I personally consider the beginning of vertical construction (of course you're free to disagree with me on what constitutes the "beginning").

I don't believe Phase II is anywhere in the near future. The next thing to be built is the low rise parking/commercial stucture. They are using a conventional crane for that construction.

Applied Development of Hoboken is the developer, and if you know anything about the company, you know that chances are that the site was master-planned several years ago, and they probably have multiple alternative plans. Most analysts believe the real estate market will bottom out within a year or so. It could take several years from breaking ground to the time the first residents move into a new building, so if Applied was to begin construction on a second tower as soon as Tower I was completed, that second tower would probably not be completed until about mid- to late- 2009.

They are not building the entire parking/retail structure as portrayed in the press releases, but more like three-quarters of it, and they started major construction of the parking deck about two weeks ago.

Interesting side note....the crane being used at Columbus is the same crane that was used for Trump Plaza....Vergona, the crane contractor, moved it to Columbus the day that Trump recieved its tower crane.

tbal

October 3rd, 2006, 12:19 AM

Hey guys-
If you check out Tuesday night's planning board agenda at:
http://www.cityofjerseycity.com/calendar/pb/october_3_2006.pdf
you will notice that there are two new large building proposals in addition to the Metropolitan, to be discussed at the meeting. One of them seems to be another large building between Grand Street and Gull's Cove (Grand Street at Marin Blvd.), and is it just me, or does the other one seem to be somewhere near the Portofino?? I Mapquested it and it comes up in the parking lot of the Avalon Cove lowrise (2 Second Street)....."accessory waterfront walkway and marina" leads me to believe that this one will go on that small, vacant "corner" lot next to Mandalay on the Hudson (formerly Avalon Cove Tower) - I'm surprised its taken them this long to decide to build something there if I am correct! :)

QHIPHOP

October 3rd, 2006, 12:08 PM

Sorry for the randomness again. Does anyone have any thoughts on McGinley Square (Astor Pl, Belmont Ave) area?

JCMAN320

October 3rd, 2006, 12:14 PM

Yea QHIP I go to Saint Peter's College there. It is an area in influx. A lot of yuppies are moving in the area. The home around Lincoln Park go for 800,000. Bergen AVe is getting more gentrified they recently opened 19 condos. Monticello is kind of sketchy but is changing with a Main Street intiative. They want to turn Monticello into a artsy strecth. It a result of the yuppies moving in. It has middle class sections and yuppie blocks as I like to call them. Also with the Med Center being converted and the college in the area it really is on its way up along with JSQ getting turned around and they currently doing the sidewalks and lamp posts over. In short up and coming area and sketchy in some parts but overall not too bad.

http://www.monticellomainstreetjcnj.org/

LocoAko

October 3rd, 2006, 10:05 PM

Monticello full of yuppies? I must be missing something here.

steveikin

October 3rd, 2006, 10:27 PM

phresident didn't say jcman was "wrong" ...

and experience does sometimes give a broader perspective.

Agreed – however I guess the bad news is: I'm 36 years old and I'm wrong at predicting the future lots of times - I thought Microsoft was a BUY in 1993 and I thought Apple was a SUPER BUY in 2004: How much MSFT or AAPL did I purchase? ZERO. Someone smarter and older than me said: "I just try to be right 51% of the time" Maybe then you're a winner?

My advice to JCMan is to focus on one location, learn, read, post, walk, talk, love-it, photo and have energy: He seems to be doing all of the above.

fronti

October 4th, 2006, 12:17 AM

TimmyG

October 4th, 2006, 12:22 AM

I took this from 7 WTC on Saturday. I think it shows Grove Pointe and Columbus Plaza.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m230/TimmyG_04/PICT0001.jpg

fronti

October 4th, 2006, 10:19 AM

The numbering on Second St is wierd. Portofino is 1, Mandalay is 20, the hotel is 21 but Harborside 10, is... 10. So it could be the empty lot, or maybe its the parking garage, buy I doubt it, since I don't think that is the name of group that owns Mandalay.

I looked this morning on the way to work and Haborside 10 is actually listed as 3 Second St. Just to confuse things a little more. So my guess that 2 second st will be the empty lot across the street. Any word on the meeting?

JCMAN320

October 4th, 2006, 10:53 AM

Well not full Loco but they're there.

phresident

October 4th, 2006, 10:59 AM

You know, I just love how people have the knack to take something and blow it totally out of proportion (Yes that's sarcasm).

If you would go back and read through this thread, you'd find that JCMAN himself talks of being young and probably having a lot to learn. But...I wasn't even suggesting anything even remotely as strong as that. I'm not calling him "wrong". There is nothing to be wrong about here.

I simply cautioned him, and everyone else for that matter, to not get all caught up in the hype and the whoopla that is generated by our city government officials (particularly the Mayor’s office and/or the City Planning Department). It is their job to be sunny about everything. They are, in essence, cheerleaders.

Do you think that they are going to do anything else? That would be ultimately admitting that they aren’t doing their jobs very well. Those words aren’t going to come out of their mouths in any form.

Despite what many 20 somethings think, one doesn’t necessarily forget what it was like to be that age some 20 years later. And that’s not a shot at JCMAN or any other young person on this board. I am speaking about myself.

I remember thinking that the “old” people had lost touch and were cynical. They weren’t fun, they weren’t cool, and most of them didn’t know what they were talking about. As far as I was concerned, many of them simply shit on life most of the time.

Then there were the few who talked of such grand plans and rosy futures. They were inspiring and made me feel so excited about life. It was great and I’m glad I had that experience in my life.

But, life has taught me that the truth falls somewhere in the middle in many cases. So when I hear that the world is going to hell and there’s no way out, I realize it probably isn’t quite that bad. And when I hear of how wonderful and great something is going to be, I also realize that it’s likely not going to turn out as good as it looks on paper.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Things don’t have to be so extreme. Everything is relative to something else and we simply cannot imagine all of the factors in every situation. This, however, is actually what makes life interesting.

I’ve sat in meetings where city officials have promised the world to members of the public and then turned around and did the opposite. I have participated in meetings where officials have all but admitted that they don’t enforce laws and policies because they just don’t like confrontation. I’ve watched as the Mayor’s office has gone out of its way to thwart public oversight, even when those in city departments have welcomed it. I’ve seen Redevelopment Plans “reopened” because it doesn’t meet with the developer’s desires. I’ve seen the city strip the PAD of its Historic District status because it was easier than defending a case that they could have won (plus all of the ratables that come with a residential tower). I’ve been in meetings where developers have simply steamrolled over community concerns because they are worried more about their profit ratio than the public good.

Pardon me if I don’t buy into Bob Cotter and Mayor Healy’s rose colored outlook on things. Excuse me if I hear things like, “the city has plans on paper and I’ve seen them” and I think to myself, when did the city ever worry about the plan? As far as I can tell, we are essentially in the wild west when it comes to development in this city.

So I’m as happy as anyone to see Jersey City grow and prosper. I think the construction is cool. I simply worry that in the end, we are going to end up with more than we bargained for in some ways. I think the thought of more property taxes supersedes logic in many cases. I am concerned that 10 - 15 years down the line we are going to look at the city and say, what were we thinking? And ultimately I think the problem is that we are so caught up in the excitement that in many ways we aren’t thinking at all.

investordude

October 4th, 2006, 12:00 PM

Yes, I think there's room to be concerned the new projects in JC won't provide an urban sensibility if people are aiming for that, phresident. My point was simply there's no reason to make that point with reference to anyone's age or other irrelevant personal details about them. And, I wistfully sigh as I mention that I'm, alas, not a 20-something - oh, to be young again.... But I digress.

I'm still of the opinion JC waterfront deliberately is filling a niche as a pro-development, more suburban alternative to Manhattan. I think there is a very affluent group of people who grew up in suburbia and wants to be near Manhattan in a high rise with a view, but with some suburban stuff too, and who would break out in hives at the bohemia of DUMBO or Williamsburg. Isn't it an advantage to be able to go to the mall, or have a considerably shorter escape to "real suburbia" in New Jersey. I'd argue there's an underserved market for which these things are pluses rather than minuses and the free market is building a product in Jersey City waterfront to accomodate that now that market demand has been demonstrated. Whether that's good or bad, I don't know, but why not allow free markets to decide, within reasonable limits?

phresident

October 4th, 2006, 04:15 PM

Whether that's good or bad, I don't know, but why not allow free markets to decide, within reasonable limits?

I'm going to reply one more time and then get off the subject as I think it will get really tiring very soon.

I have no problem with capitalism and free markets with reasonable limits. What I've seen in this city, however, is the willingness to forgo any limits at all in some cases.

As I said in my very first post on this site, our politians are still afraid that if they don't do everything a developer wants, then that developer will simply pick up his or her toys and leave.

That might have been true 5 years ago, but it's not the case anymore. There is too much of a demand here now for these developers to simply walk away. Let's be perfectly clear that no developer is building a building in this city as a favor the residents. They are doing it for the money, and that's perfectly legitimate.

But, the ordinary citizens should not be asked to give up our public rights of way so we can make sure a developer makes enough money so that he or she is really happy. Private company's profit ratios are not really the concern of government.

The government is supposed to be looking out for the best interest of the largest number of people. Our current officials argue that this is exactly what they are doing because all of these new units will pay property taxes. I get that.

But, when we build all of this, will our infrastructure support it? I'm not just talking about water and sewers either. Will we have the fire equipment and the manpower to support all these highrise buildings. Will we have enough law enforcement officers to police the swell of population that all of these units will bring? Are the streets in good enough shape to handle all of the new traffic? Do we have qualified people in the departments that are in charge of public safety; people like building inspectors, traffic engineers and the likes? Will the school system, that is already in crisis, be able to rise to the occasion? Will the state of New Jersey look at all of this new found growth and decide that we can pay for our own schools now?

These are questions that need to be taken into account and my experience is that they are simply ignored (in many ways) because no one wants to stand up and act responsibly. All most of our government officials can focus on is the short term gain of ratables.

We currently live in a city where we wait 3 years and spend millions of dollars to expand a street (Greene Street) and then turn around and give part of it to a developer because they whine that they need it. But all one has to do is cross the river to see that huge buildings are built every day in Manhattan and the developer doesn't even get the sidewalk.

We live in a city where Washington Street is now one way south bound into Paulus Hook while Greene Street is to be one way north. But...Greene Street has never been completed at the north end so traffic is routed to Washington Street where A Condominums takes up half the street. Who thought that was a good idea? Why weren't the developers told, sorry, you can't have that portion of the street nor can you have all of 2nd Street for your crane? They could put up a tower crane like they do in Manhattan. There are tower cranes that aren't the swing arm variety that can work in tight places. They don't need to be using the street to store their rebar. They can rent the vacant lot right across the light rail tracks. Of course they don't want to do this so they tell city they just have to have it and the city says yes. What about our convenience? What about our right of way?

As a matter of fact, the A Condo sight was granted 8 feet around their site. They continued to expand and expand finally reaching 12 feet into the street. When pressed on this, the city's answer was, well they're planning on asking for 12.

The law says that no noisy work can occur on weekends unless it's for emergencies or for public safety issues. Can anyone explain why Gull's Cove goes full blast every Saturday? How about Liberty Harbor North? Why aren't the laws enforced?

This is the reason I am skeptical when I read everything on this site which, in my opinion, tends to be all rah rah about Jersey City development. That is why when I read that JCMAN would have 'faith that Goldman Sachs would bring in the best architects and do such a steller job' when I've seen otherwise, I cringe a little bit.

It seems to me that too much is happening on faith in this city and not enough on really good planning and the cajones to stick to those plans.

Additionally I will say that I don't believe everyone in city government is incompetent or crooked. I know some of these people in planning and construction and I know that their hearts are in the right place. Everyone has to keep in mind, however, that many of the orders are coming from the top. And in that sense, I see a great deal of incompetence and crookedness.

Finally, as I said in my last post, I like the fact that this city is developing. I like seeing the cranes and the buildings take shape. I think that the growth is potentially a really good thing for all of us. I just think we need to be a little more skeptical about how it is happening and not simply stand around with silly pride that someone is building yet another big building. If it's not done right, we won't have very much to be proud about.

pianoman11686

October 4th, 2006, 06:13 PM

That is a very well thought-out post, ph.

JCMAN320

October 4th, 2006, 07:47 PM

Innovation and inspiration
'New' Liberty Science Center will be on cutting edge of 21st-century museums

Wednesday, October 04, 2006
BY KITTA MacPHERSON
Star-Ledger Staff

Be prepared to say "wow!"

Get ready to have fun.

Most of all, what the planners of the "new" Liberty Science Center want is for visitors to be inspired, to realize that science and technology are a part of their daily lives and to learn that it is within their power to take informed action on any scientific subject.

The center is designed to represent an entirely new kind of learning experience, according to its chief creator, Emlyn Koster, the president and CEO of Liberty Science Center.

"It's really all about connection, both locally and beyond," Koster said. "To have new insights into how the world works is to somehow act more responsibly on a global scale."

The state's largest science museum will reopen next July after a 22-month, $109 million upgrade -- with a new entrance, a new wing, greatly enlarged classrooms and labs for teacher training and student learning, and, most dramatically, completely redesigned and rethought exhibits on floor upon floor.

"This is not going to be just about helping the public understand science," said Alan Leshner, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. "This center will be about engaging the public in science."

The center will remain geared to preschool children with caregivers, students, science teachers and families. Because of its multi-layered approach, designers also hope to attract adult, community and corporate groups.

Koster will announce at a press conference today that the mammoth construction project is running on time. Those performing site work and exhibit building are in high gear to be ready for its the reopening.

"Liberty Science Center will be one of the world's leading science centers when it reopens," said Jim Marchbank, president of the Canadian Association of Science Centres and CEO of Science North, an interactive science museum that is one of the top attractions in Canada. "It was already an outstanding center, but with Emlyn's leadership it will be larger, more up to date, more innovative and will be truly a leader in the field."

Others agree. "If you ask someone in the museum business for a list of the 'top five' of the most innovative science centers in the world, Liberty Science Center is definitely in there," said James Abruzzo, managing director of the Chicago-based executive search firm DHR International, who leads its nonprofit practice. "What they are planning to have will certainly make it one of the great centers -- it will be big, it will be filled with people, it will gleam and sparkle, and it will present science in a more humanistic way."

With a million visitors a year, the Jersey City center is already established as a major destination, as well as a national model for connecting schools and families from all socio-economic levels.

Popularity may be good, Koster said, but it's not enough. He wants the center to be useful and remain that way.

For example, in one exhibition, visitors will learn about contagious illnesses through a simulated ride on a subway car. In another, they will confront issues about sexually transmitted diseases in a setting designed to mimic a teenager's bedroom. Interactivity will be key -- many displays will allow cell phone users to communicate and download data for at-home perusal.

Through immersion, multimedia displays and hands-on gadgetry, the goal of the renovated center on the booming Jersey City waterfront will be to provoke visitors to take "informed action" in their daily lives. This will occur through demonstrations on how science and technology can help people assess the choices they make, and by showing how those actions affect others.

The redesign, reconstruction and reinvention of the center, which has included adding 100,000 square feet, have not happened overnight. Koster has worked at it over a decade, assembling a seasoned team of science center professionals. The group has brainstormed and planned rigorously.

The original exhibits were worn and seemed a bit "tired," according to Wayne LaBar, vice president of exhibitions and theaters, who joined the center in 1999 ready to help with the transformation. "Lots of people had seen them already, and there was a sense that there was a lot of science and technology out there that incorporated lots of change," he said. "We wanted to be relevant and show our connection to the world. So we went forward."

Designers have stayed with the same three major themes that connected the center's first exhibits -- health, the environment and invention. Rather than being assigned to separate floors as in the past, the themes are combined on different floors. Sequences of displays sharing themes will be called "exhibitions," LaBar said.

Some of the highlights will include:
A 12,800-square-foot exhibition, the center's largest, called "Skyscraper!," believed to the most comprehensive ever on the subject. It includes large models of some of the world's most notable structures and aspects of design from the basic physics of elevator operation to a test chamber assessing the strength of materials.

The 7,000-square-foot "Communication" exhibition, which can be explored with cell phones, multimedia, by touch, through spoken and written language and through symbols. Guests will learn how vital innovations in science and technology are to modern forms of expression.

A new pre-school area called "I Explore," where children 2 to 6 can learn, along with their adult caregivers, about the natural world, their own bodies, and how and why things work.

The 7,500-square foot "Infection Connection" exhibition to enlarge perspectives on contagious diseases through photo mosaics, a wet lab and a subway car theater, where guests will journey the world and the microscopic realm.

The Exhibit Commons, with 10 separate exhibits, including the "Times Square of Science and Technology," a multi-media display showcasing the latest scientific discoveries and inventions.

The 20,000-square-foot Center for Science Learning and Teaching, which will bring the audience into direct contact with working scientists with the goal of providing visitors with a deeper appreciation for science and its impacts. A large space in the center known as the Forum will host scientific competitions, demonstrations and discussions. Other areas contain laboratories, classrooms and video conference facilities for teacher training and greatly enhanced field trips.

Science centers, which have been around for decades, have been largely successful in attracting visitors and becoming part of the cultural landscape, according to many experts.

Unlike standard museums, however, which highlight the past, science centers are forced to reach into the future.

"Science museums are the only museums that are not looking backwards," said David Mosena, president and CEO of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. "We have to stay current and we have to stay fresh."

All science centers are in a state of evolution, he said, and no one knows where they are headed. "Certainly, the 'hands-on' techniques of the past are becoming widespread and a little ho-hum," he said, noting that audiences are growing more sophisticated. "People are looking for engagement and want to be much more involved, more participatory, spontaneous and experimental. We're trying to figure out how to do it."

He praised Koster and company, saying that his center borrowed Liberty Science Center's idea of a live video conference of hospital surgery and it has become one of the center's most popular events. "I think he's one of the strongest leaders in the science museum-science center field," he said. "He's definitely one of my favorite people in this business."

Science centers have always been centered upon education and were founded as places where visitors could explore the way the world works. Along the way, their founders hoped, visitors would develop a lifelong interest in science and technology.

Most of the world's first science centers, famed for "hands-on" exhibits, were established in the 1960s. They excelled as places of interactive discovery about certain scientific phenomena. Some of the most famed included The Exploratorium in San Francisco and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

There are now hundreds of such science centers throughout the world.

By staying relevant, centers like Liberty may be living up to a museum's highest calling.

"Museums reach out to the communities they serve and work to provide the highest educational, inspirational and valuable experiences for visitors," said Kim Igoe, interim president and chief executive officer of the American Association of Museums. "In doing so, museums act as good neighbors, sustaining and contributing to an engaged, informed and enthusiastic community."

She described Koster, Liberty's director, as a person possessed with a bold vision: "He is an advocate for the relevant museum, acting upon the idea that a museum should serve as the central forum for engagement and interaction with issues and ideas that confront the community and the world in which it lives."

steveikin

October 4th, 2006, 10:26 PM

That is a very well thought-out post, ph.

Agreed - ph's post are of a high quality.

Nevertheless, personally I come to this site for the strong positive vibe - it's called "JC Rising" – not JCList. Again, this is my personal opinion, I don't believe anyone here believes JC is anywhere near perfect. Be that as it may: I enjoy the text, the photos, the inform, and the few high quality posters talking about how great the city is becoming. Me? I'm simple.

Jersey City is the most interesting place I have lived.

tbal

October 4th, 2006, 11:30 PM

I agree with most of, if not all of, what ph said.

The thing that I am personally most worried about it the PATH however. It's a great form of transportation - it is incredibly inexpensive, fast, and reliable. Part of me thinks that the new flood of residents will overwhelm the system (the trains are already pretty darn packed during rush hour).

But, I figure that alot of the new upper-middle class residents will regularly take a ferry across the Hudson, simply because it is seen by them as a "class" thing with its significantly higher price. But there are still alot of developments both under construction and planned that are away from the river (Obviously Grove Pointe, Columbus Plaza, and the Metropolitan), and these people would be more likely to use the PATH. My question is, how many more trains can we squeeze into those tunnels before we have no choice but to construct additional ones?

The "THE Tunnel" to be constructed near Weehwaken/Union City is expected to take another 10 years to plan and build. It took at least 5 years before that to get the ball rolling. If we were to build another tunnel to accomodate significantly more commuters, it may not be completed until well into the 2020's. Tens of thousands of new commuters are expected to move in by then. What are we waiting for? Or, is another tunnel unnecessary?

investordude

October 5th, 2006, 01:46 AM

When you consider that Jersey City added light rail, and the Newport schools are routinely ranked among the best in the nation, I just don't see how your argument that JC isn't adding infrastructure is valid. If you compare it to Brooklyn for example, its light years ahead on this stuff.

Also, Jersey City (and urban Jersey in general) is below its historical peak populations, so if they didn't run out of water and sewer capacity then, they won't run out of water now assuming they do responsible maintenance on the systems they have. Or am I missing something?

I'll agree Jersey City has problems, primarily crime and drugs beyond the waterfront where private investment hasn't reached yet. Those areas will turn around when when the private sector invests, and it will do that sooner if there is less regulation.

JCMAN320

October 5th, 2006, 11:41 AM

I agree with investordude, the city is adding new schools and just built two new schools and in terms of infrastructure ours is no where near as atiquated as Brooklyn or Queens. I do think that another tunnel will be needed in the near future and even new stations with one between JSQ and Grove. THE Tunnel is crucial to aleviate congestion on the PATH, the current line into Penn Station, and even into Hoboken. THE Tunnel will be built before a new PATH Tunnel, hell we can't even get the PATH extended to EWR so I don't expect to a see a new PATH tunnel until I'am in my 50s.

z22

October 5th, 2006, 11:14 PM

Your estimate is off. It will take 50 years to extend light rail from JC to Newark. So by the time they have the new tunnel to downtown, you will be in your 90s. :)

investordude

October 7th, 2006, 12:40 AM

I like the digital stuff described in the Liberty Harbor North complex:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/realestate/08njzo.html?ref=realestate

I especially like the part about how the doorbell is connected to your cell phone, and the ability to set the apartment thermostat on the Internet.

And of course, if the bandwidth description is accurate, I think you'll see a lot of entreprenuers and technology consultants with an interest in living there and working from home on various projects, possible with an office in the 4.5 million square feet planned.

pianoman11686

October 7th, 2006, 02:08 PM

In the Region | New Jersey

A Patchwork Project, by Design

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/10/08/realestate/08njzo.600.jpg
DIVERSE STYLES Attached buildings in the first phase have designs by five architects.

By ANTOINETTE MARTIN

Published: October 8, 2006

JERSEY CITY

IF his plans hadn’t been thwarted two decades ago, said Peter Mocco, the developer of the massive Liberty Harbor community rising adjacent to two historic neighborhoods here, he would have built a “spaceship” development — sealed-off and sterile.

But today, as the 667-unit first phase of Mr. Mocco’s project at last takes shape, he is going in the opposite direction — open and eclectic-looking. The only “spaceship” aura exists inside the residences under construction. Each will have a touch-screen computer on the wall that can do just about everything but take out the garbage.

Before construction began, the site was inlaid with raceways of fiber to generate virtually unlimited bandwidth at all points.

“From one of the town houses in Liberty Harbor,” Mr. Mocco said, as he walked the site on a recent day, “you could operate 10 high-definition TV’s with video on demand and still have enough bandwidth to run a day-trading operation.”

“This will probably be the most technologically advanced residential community in the nation,” he suggested. “Everything, from the thermostats to the lighting, including computers, TV, kitchen and bath appliances, can be remotely controlled from outside the home — say, in your car while coming home from work, using your cellphone or P.D.A.”

It was 1985, a decidedly different era, when Mr. Mocco was named master developer of the huge site adjacent to the Paulus Hook and Van Voorst historic neighborhoods covering 28 city blocks. The area was run-down and industrial, with abandoned warehouses and, on the fringes, rows of substandard apartment buildings.

“The conventional wisdom at the time was that if you were going to redevelop in the inner city, you built a defensive residential complex — set behind a giant wall, with one gate to go in and out,” Mr. Mocco said. “Crime rates were very high in all the urban areas. The idea was to create a sort of sealed-off space station in order for people to feel safe enough to live there.”

So that is what Mr. Mocco dutifully designed, and by 1987, he had city approval for his plans to cover the site — bounded by Grand Street, Luis Muñoz Marin Boulevard, Jersey Avenue and the Tidewater Basin — with modern, but “sterile looking” apartment buildings and single-family homes set behind a fortress wall.

Abruptly, though, things soured: the economy, the real estate market and the financial industry’s willingness to back a plan for 7,000 to 10,000 housing units in a risky area of Jersey City.

A decade passed, Mr. Mocco said, before the notion of rebuilding in beat-up urban areas became realistic again. Crime rates were significantly lower in New York, and Jersey City, too, by the late 1990’s, he recalled, and urban living was regaining cachet. By the year 2000, he had begun considering how to reshape his vision for Liberty Harbor.

Mr. Mocco, 64, whose company bears his name and is based in Jersey City, decided five years ago to put his project under the wing of the renowned architect Andrés Duany, a prominent advocate of New Urbanism. Mr. Duany developed a conceptual plan for Liberty Harbor using New Urbanist principles calling for open, “porous” development that fits seamlessly into the existing urban setting and offers a variety of housing types and styles integrated with retailing and park space and pedestrian-oriented street layouts.

To prevent the Levittown syndrome in a community that will have so many residences, Mr. Duany recommended commissioning a number of architects to work on various parts of the project.

Mr. Mocco hired 10 architectural firms, whose members sat with city planners and community representatives in a series of “charrettes” — open-ended working sessions to generate ideas and drawings — and produced plans employing a diverse “vernacular,” as the architects say.

Sometimes, an individual architect designed a block of one type of housing — condominiums or town houses or duplex apartments. In other cases, the work of different architects was designed to stand side by side. A single block of five attached buildings in the first phase of construction, for example, features five designs by five architects, ranging from a classic brick building with bowed windows and a slate mansard roof, to a more modern-looking structure relying heavily on wood and glass for a sleek facade.

The connected buildings are drawn together by their scale, friendly front stoops and small touches, including the circular pediment ornaments that Mr. Mocco had custom-designed, which are stamped “L H” for Liberty Harbor.

In addition, the community will be tied together by fiber and circuitry. “Residents of Liberty Harbor will be able to see what’s going on inside their own homes, and up and down the block, by looking at the screen on the wall or the computer or the TV,” Mr. Mocco said, “and they can do that from anyplace in the world with a digital connection.”

“From your office, you can check out who is down at the park,” he said, “and whether there was a package left on your doorstep.

“If you’re in the Bahamas,” he continued, “and someone rings your doorbell, your cellphone will ring, letting you know someone is at your door, and you will be able to communicate with them.”

There will be video cameras on every corner recording the street activity, and the images will be kept for a minimum of 30 days, which Liberty Harbor planners expect to act as a deterrent, keeping a lid on crime and mischief.

Mr. Mocco said he is intent on making Liberty Harbor a haven for families. “I believe for urban areas to redevelop, they have to compete with the suburbs,” he said, “compete with the barbecue grill and the patch of grass in the backyard, and the sense of being safe and secure.”

The wall screens and digital wizardry are meant to imbue the community with a sense of security, he said. One or more screens will be installed in every residence; home shoppers can try them out at the just-completed 6,000-square-foot Liberty Harbor sales center on 333 Grand Street, directly opposite the new Liberty Health Jersey City Medical Center.

With a few minutes of instruction, a visitor can learn to raise and lower the blinds on the vaulted windows at the center, or lower the lights in the main hall, by simply clicking on a button.

The sales center also houses four model kitchens and baths that are available in the units under construction, and prospective buyers can view floor plans for the units to be completed within the next year or two. The project may take five to seven more years to complete, Mr. Mocco said.

Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company